Safety challenges in view of the upcoming hydrogen economy: An overview

If produced and arranged in the right way with carbon dioxide as a possible but permanently removed by-product, hydrogen as a new, large scale, applicable energy carrier promises significant reductions of carbon dioxide emissions. It is light, non-toxic, and clean burning. In different parts of the world, viz. United States, Japan, and Europe, programs have started some years ago to investigate hazardous properties of hydrogen in more detail and to develop special safety measures where necessary. Recently, in September 2009, the third International Conference on Hydrogen Safety (3rd ICHS) was held at Corsica, France. CFD tools have been adapted to describe hydrogen dispersion and explosion. Field tests have been carried out, an incident databank has been founded, knowledge gaps were defined, and risk analysis methods reviewed. The latter are required for drafting installation guidelines and measures for safe distances in land-use planning and licensing of hydrogen storage locations, pipelines, and re-fuelling stations. Yet some challenges remain. The paper will summarize present results and will address hydrogen related issues where more knowledge is needed to reduce uncertainty and improve the quality of risk control.     

Flammability of hydrocarbon and carbon dioxide mixtures

The effect of carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration on the ignition behaviour of hydrocarbon and CO₂ gas mixtures is examined in both jets and confined explosions. Results from explosion tests are presented using a 20 l explosion sphere and an 8 m long section of 1.04 m diameter pipeline. Experiments to assess the flame stability and ignition probability in free-jets are reported for a range of different release velocities. An empirically-based flammability factor model for free-jets is also presented and results are compared to ignition probability measurements previously reported in the literature and those resulting from the present tests.The results help to understand how CO₂ changes the severity of fires and explosions resulting from hydrocarbon releases. They also demonstrate that it is possible to ignite gas mixtures when the mean concentration is outside the flammable range. This information may be useful for risk assessments of offshore platforms involved in carbon sequestration or enhanced oil recovery, or in assessing the hazards posed by poorly-inerted hydrocarbon processing plant.     

面包酵母菌对Pb2+和Cd2+单双重金属离子体系的吸附效果

为了探讨灭活面包酵母菌对Pb2+、Cd2+的单、双重金属离子体系(以下简称双离子体系)的吸附效果及影响机制,选择灭活面包酵母菌为吸附剂,对Pb2+、Cd2+的单离子体系和Pb2+-Cd2+双离子体系吸附动力学过程和等温吸附效果进行研究.结果表明,不同离子体系中,在相同初始浓度情况下,面包酵母菌对Pb2+的吸附量总是大于对Cd2+的吸附量.试验条件下,面包酵母菌对Pb2+、Cd2+的单离子体系和Pb2+-Cd2+双离子体系等温吸附符合Langmuir模型,最大吸附量qmax分别为0.414 9 mmol/g、0.346 8 mmol/g和0.488 5 mmol/g.SEM/EDS分析表明,Pb2+、Cd2+被吸附到菌体上,造成菌体变形或出现破裂,并使内部物质外泄,这可能是吸附进行一定时间后出现二次吸附过程的主要原因.灭活面包酵母对Pb2+和Cd2+具有良好的吸附效果,对Pb2+-Cd2+双离子体系的吸附,离子间的点位竞争和联合毒性作用是影响体系总体吸附效果的重要因素.     

When the dark ones become darker: How promotion focus moderates the effects of the dark triad on supervisor performance ratings

The current study adds to a growing body of research on dark personality traits by investigating the moderating role of promotion focus on the relationships among dark triad traits and facets of job performance. Specifically, we investigated the effects of the dark triad (i.e., Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy) on supervisor ratings of performance, and the moderating effect promotion focus has on those effects. Using field data, we surveyed 549 employees from a manufacturing company in the USA and obtained supervisor ratings of task performance and helping behavior for each employee. We found support for multiple hypotheses, which suggests that managers rated narcissistic and psychopathic employees as having poorer task performance and psychopathic employees as engaging in fewer helping behaviors than employees low in those traits. Furthermore, promotion focus strengthened these negative relationships. We did not find these effects for Machiavellianism. Implications of these findings for future dark personality research as well as the practical implications for managers and organizations are discussed. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Idiosyncratic deals in contemporary organizations: A qualitative and meta‐analytical review

Idiosyncratic deals (i‐deals) research focuses on the emergence of customized work arrangements employees negotiate with their employers. This article provides a critical review and synthesis of i‐deals research, combining a qualitative review of i‐deals theory and research with a supplementary meta‐analysis of 23 empirical studies (k = 27 samples, N = 8110 individuals). The qualitative review examines the conceptualization and measurement of i‐deals and identifies patterns and gaps in i‐deals research, while the quantitative meta‐analysis tests the moderating effect of societal cultures on the predictors and consequences of ideals investigated to date. In each section, attention is given to strengths and weaknesses of current approaches to i‐deals theory and research. Future research directions are identified with particular emphasis on the largely unexamined role of i‐deals from a multilevel perspective. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Nautical safety and efficiency: simulation and reality

The paper deals with training and research using maritime simulation techniques to provide cost-effective and safe solutions to maritime transportation problems. In order to reduce the probability of accidents, training and research is required in which the human factors are fully taken into account.     

The moderating role of task characteristics in determining responses to a stressful work simulation

Two experimental studies were conducted to examine whether the stress‐buffering effects of behavioral control on work task responses varied as a function of procedural information. Study 1 manipulated low and high levels of task demands, behavioral control, and procedural information for 128 introductory psychology students completing an in‐basket activity. ANOVA procedures revealed a significant three‐way interaction among these variables in the prediction of subjective task performance and task satisfaction. It was found that procedural information buffered the negative effects of task demands on ratings of performance and satisfaction only under conditions of low behavioral control. This pattern of results suggests that procedural information may have a compensatory effect when the work environment is characterized by a combination of high task demands and low behavioral control. Study 2 (N=256) utilized simple and complex versions of the in‐basket activity to examine the extent to which the interactive relationship among task demands, behavioral control, and procedural information varied as a function of task complexity. There was further support for the stress‐buffering role of procedural information on work task responses under conditions of low behavioral control. This effect was, however, only present when the in‐basket activity was characterized by high task complexity, suggesting that the interactive relationship among these variables may depend on the type of tasks performed at work. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Time perspective balance and team adaptation in dynamic task contexts

The concept of time perspective balance has attracted increased attention from scholars in the past decade, reflected in published evidence suggesting positive outcomes ranging from enhanced mood to life satisfaction for those individuals possessing balance among their past, present, and future time perspectives, and assumedly able to shift their time perspective to match situational demands. In this paper, we consider the notion of time perspective balance in an organizational setting within which much consequential adaptation often occurs—the team environment—and explore different configurations of time perspective balance in teams facing dynamic task contexts. Drawing from work on situational awareness, we first consider the mechanism by which time perspective balance likely influences individual adaptation in dynamic task-focused situations. Next, we postulate what types of team configurations—ones with more balanced time perspective uniformity or ones with more time perspective variety—might be more appropriate in dynamic contexts given key team conditions. We illustrate our analysis with examples from healthcare team settings and offer ideas for future research.     

Influence of Chronic Man-made Pollution on Bromus inermis Genome Size

Russian Journal of Ecology - Technogenic pollution can accelerate microevolutionary processes in natural populations. We estimated the nuclear DNA content of 10 Bromus inermis Leyss. samples from...     

Chemical dusts, vapours, and fumes causing asthma

Allergic respiratory disease due to common allergens of organic origin is wwell known. Less familiar, but of increasing importance, are chemicals of organic and inorganic nature, met as dusts, vapours, and fumes. Their relevance is shown in occupational respiratory allergic disorders. Confirmation is given by “real life,” simulated, occupational-type provocation tests. Controlled exposure with minute amounts for brief periods, thus closely simulating allergic sensitivity, can precisely identify etiological causes in often complex exposures. The capacity of these widely different agents in different forms to elicit the different patterns of asthmatic reactions, is a pointed example of their potential role, as well as the role of chemical agents in general. The introduction into indoor environments of such materials demands consideration of their possible allergenic ffects and of the need to recognise the various forms of allergic respiratory reaction they may cause.