Consequential cognition: Exploring how attribution theory sheds new light on the firm‐level consequences of product recalls

It is unclear why some firms suffer greater negative consequences than others following a product recall. To shed light on this question, we extend attribution theory to the firm level to explore how consumers engage in an attributional process following product recalls that shapes their responses to firms. Integrating attribution theory and the demand side theoretical perspective, we assert that consumer judgments of responsibility toward manufacturers are shaped by causal data regarding the locus of causality (i.e., manufacturer or supplier) and controllability (i.e., prior knowledge or awareness) of a recalled product's potential for harm. We then examine the impact of product recall characteristics on judgments of responsibility and firm‐level outcomes using an experimental test involving responses from 320 subjects. Our findings suggest that judgments of responsibility are attributed to the manufacturing firm more when consumers are given causal information indicating that the firm is the source of, or is aware of, a product's defects. The results also indicate that judgments of responsibility can have costly firm‐level consequences in the form of reputational damage, diminished consumer purchase intentions, and increased legal damage recommendations. We discuss theoretical contributions, practical implications, and opportunities for further research.     

Integration of SWAT and HSPF for Simulation of Sediment Sources in Legacy Sediment‐Impacted Agricultural Watersheds

A total maximum daily load for the Chesapeake Bay requires reduction in pollutant load from sources within the Bay watersheds. The Conestoga River watershed has been identified as a major source of sediment load to the Bay. Upland loads of sediment from agriculture are a concern; however, a large proportion of the sediment load in the Conestoga River has been linked to scour of legacy sediment associated with historic millpond sites. Clarifying this distinction and identifying specific segments associated with upland vs. channel sources has important implications for future management. In order to address this important question, we combined the strengths of two widely accepted watershed management models — Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) for upland agricultural processes, and Hydrologic Simulation Program FORTRAN (HSPF) for instream fate and transport — to create a novel linked modeling system to predict sediment loading from critical sources in the watershed including upland and channel sources, and to aid in targeted implementation of management practices. The model indicates approximately 66% of the total sediment load is derived from instream sources, in agreement with other studies in the region and can be used to support identification of these channel source segments vs. upland source segments, further improving targeted management. The innovated linked SWAT‐HSPF model implemented in this study is useful for other watersheds where both upland agriculture and instream processes are important sources of sediment load.     

First ceratosaurian dinosaur from Australia

The basal theropod dinosaur clade Ceratosauria, and its subclade Abelisauroidea, is characteristic of late Mesozoic terrestrial vertebrate faunas in western Gondwana (South America, Africa, Madagascar, and India) and Europe. Yet unambiguous records of ceratosaurs have hitherto been absent from Australia, where the theropod assemblage appears to include several typically Laurasian clades. Here, we report the first evidence of ceratosaurs (and potentially abelisauroids) from eastern Gondwana––a diagnostic astragalocalcaneum from the Aptian (121–125?Ma) of Victoria, Australia. Ceratosauria thus occurred in both western and eastern Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous. This fossil adds to the poorly known dinosaur fauna of Australia, a major clade of basal theropods, emphasising that its mid-Cretaceous theropod diversity was surprisingly cosmopolitan despite relative geographic isolation, including clades that have been thought to be typical of both Gondwana and Laurasia––Ceratosauria, Spinosauridae, Carcharodontosauria, Tyrannosauroidea, and Deinonychosauria. Such a contemporaneous association of theropod clades is unknown from other Gondwanan continents and questions the views that the late Mesozoic dinosaur fauna of Australia was dominated by Gondwanan or Laurasian elements, extreme isolation, relictualism, and/or novelty as a ‘centre of origin’. The cosmopolitan theropod fauna of Australia probably reflects the global distribution of these clades early in their history, prior to significant continental breakup.     

Spatial and seasonal variation in δ15N and δ13C values in a mesopredator shark, Squalus suckleyi, revealed through multitissue analyses

We used variance decomposition to explore the importance of body size, sex, location, and sampling period as predictors of intrapopulation variation in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values in spiny dogfish Squalus suckleyi from the Puget Sound–Strait of Georgia basin. Isotopes in two tissues with long (dorsal white muscle) and short (liver) isotopic turnover rates (~1 year and ~3–4 months, respectively) were sampled to evaluate whether the relative importance of each variable differed depending on the time span over which diet information was integrated. Significant spatial variation was observed in both muscle and liver isotopic composition, whereby location uniquely explained 25 and 17 % of the total variance, respectively. The remaining variables explained considerably less variation in both tissue types. Furthermore, evidence of seasonal isotopic shifts in δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C values was apparent, but differed widely in direction and magnitude among groups. These findings suggest that members of spiny dogfish schools may share a common feeding history, possibly by spending extended time periods (weeks to months) foraging in a spatially fixed region. Another explanation is that individuals may move and feed in aggregations that exist for extended periods. These complex group-level patterns suggest that even for large-bodied, motile predators such as sharks, population-level diet estimates derived from averaging isotope ratios of individuals collected from only a few locations may poorly reflect the true population mean.     

Steady-state design of vertical wells for liquids addition at bioreactor landfills

The rate at which liquids can be added to a vertical well, the lateral zone of impact of the well, and the liquids volume needed to wet the waste within the zone of impact of the well are the key inputs needed to design a vertical well system. This paper presents design charts that can be used to estimate these inputs as a function of municipal solid waste properties (porosity, hydraulic conductivity, and anisotropy ratio), well dimensions (radius and screen length), and injection pressure. SEEP/W modeling was conducted to estimate the key design inputs for a range of conditions practically encountered for a vertical well installed in landfilled waste. The flow rate, lateral zone of impact of a well, liquids volume added, and injection pressure were normalized with the waste properties and well dimensions to formulate dimensionless variables. A series of design charts were created to present dimensionless steady-state flow rate, lateral zone of impact, and the dimensionless liquid volume needed to reach a steady-state condition, as a function of dimensionless input variables. By using dimensionless variables formulated for this work, these charts permit the user to estimate the steady-state design variables described above for a wide range of configurations and conditions beyond those simulated without the need for further modeling. The results of the study suggest that the lateral extent of the well can be estimated using Darcy’s equation and assuming saturated unit-gradient vertical flow regime below the well bottom. An example problem is presented to illustrate the use of the design charts. The scenario described in the example problem was also modeled with SEEP/W, and the results were compared with those obtained from the design charts to demonstrate the validity of design charts for scenarios other than those used for the development of the design charts. The methodology presented in this paper should be thought of as a means to provide a set of bounds that an engineer can use along with their judgment in the design of a system for a specific site.     

Optimization of Flow for Forcing Stack Wastes to High Altitudes

It is difficult to control the emission of waste products from large stacks because of the large volume of material to be handled. However, if the waste gas is projected to relatively high altitudes, the problem is less severe in that pollution products are carried to regions of low pollution density. It is especially helpful to accomplish this high altitude dispersal during periods when the air is stable and pollution buildup is most severe. In this paper it is shown that dramatic improvements in the altitude to which stack wastes rise may be obtained by emitting the effluent in discrete vortex rings rather than in steady plumes or forced jets. The parameters of vortex rings required to reach given altitudes under given conditions are calculated. The flow at the stack required to give specific vortex ring parameters is also calculated. Some comments on the type of stack needed to create the desired flow are presented.     

Heavy metal distribution in an urban wetland impacted by combined sewer overflow

The heavy metal content and distribution in an urban wetland affected by combined sewer overflow (CSO) discharge during dry conditions was evaluated. Metals identified in the CSO discharge were also measured upstream and downstream of the CSO. Metals were detected in the acid-extractable fraction of the wetland sediments and the roots of Phragmites australis plants. Sediment from the banks of a pool created by the CSO, and from a clay bed upstream were found to be moderately contaminated with Cu, Pb and Zn. Micro X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) of Phragmites roots from the CSO banks showed a correlation in the spatial distribution of Fe and Mn, attributed to the formation of mineral plaques on the root surface. Micro X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (μ-XANES) revealed that Cu and Zn were complexed with the organic ligands phytate and cysteine. The findings indicated that continuous discharge from the CSO is a source of heavy metals to the wetland. Metals bound to sediments are susceptible to remobilization and subsequent transport, whereas those associated with Phragmites roots may be more effectively sequestered. These observations provide insight into the behavior of heavy metals in urban areas where CSOs discharge into wetlands.     

Bioconcentration of nonylphenol in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Bioconcentration of p-nonylphenol (NP) by fathead minnows was determined under laboratory conditions. Fish were exposed continuously for 42 days to 0.33, 0.93 and 2.36 μgNP/l in a flow-through system. NP was Soxhlet extracted from whole fish homogenates with dichloromethane (DCM). The resulting extract was concentrated and bulk lipids removed by gel permeation and silica-gel chromatography. Compounds were identified and quantified by reverse-phase high-pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with fluorescence detection. Mass spectrometry was used for verification of peak assignments. Bioconcentration factors (BCFs) ranged from 245 to 380.     

Context-dependent effects of symbiosis: Zoanthidea colonization generally improves Demospongiae condition in native habitats

In order to reconcile existing data and hypotheses on the relationship outcomes of Caribbean Zoanthidea-Demospongiae symbioses, the context-dependent survival and growth (metrics of host sponge condition) were monitored for 8–12?months, with and without Zoanthidean symbionts, in native (coral reef) and novel (mangrove) habitats. Experiments repeated over space and time revealed significant positive effects of Zoanthidea colonization on metrics of host condition and indicated that the outcome of these symbioses can shift from mutualism to parasitism when transplanted to novel habitats. Although the precise mechanisms of the symbioses remain obscured and most of the species associations have not been examined, these experiments demonstrate an example where relationship outcomes are more conserved across their evolutionary history than host associations.     

Evaluation of alternative landfill cover soils for attenuating hydrogen sulfide from construction and demolition (C&D) debris landfills

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) generated from C&D debris landfills has emerged as a major environmental concern due to odor problems and possible health impacts to landfill employees and surrounding residents. Research was performed to evaluate the performance of various cover materials as control measures for H(2)S emissions from C&D debris landfills. Twelve laboratory-scale simulated landfill columns containing gypsum drywall were operated under anaerobic conditions to promote H(2)S production. Five different cover materials were placed on top of the waste inside duplicate columns: (1) sandy soil, (2) sandy soil amended with lime, (3) clayey soil, (4) fine concrete (particle size less than 2.5 cm), and (5) coarse concrete (particle size greater than 2.5 cm). No cover was placed on two of the columns, which were used as controls. H(2)S concentrations measured from the middle of the waste layer ranged from 50,000 to 150,000 ppm. The different cover materials demonstrated varying H(2)S removal efficiencies. The sandy soil amended with lime and the fine concrete were the most effective for the control of H(2)S emissions. Both materials exhibited reduction efficiencies greater than 99%. The clayey and sandy soils exhibited lower reduction efficiencies, with average removal efficiencies of 65% and 30%, respectively. The coarse concrete was found to be the least efficient material as a result of its large particle size.