Current Trends in Federal Interagency Relations Concerning Air Pollution

Under the first Federal Air Pollution Act of 1955, which assigned the responsibility for developing a national program to the Public Health Service, a significant phase of the program involved other federal agencies through a series of contractual relationships. These interdepartmental relationships were limited however, to the objective of capitalizing on the diverse research facilities and specialized competencies within the federal establishment, as a means of accelerating the research and technical assistance program authorized under the act. With the passage of the Clean Air Act of 1963, a major new emphasis has been added to the federal air pollution control program—application of technical knowledge, through broadly accelerated control programs. This emphasis is reflected in current trends in the nature and type of the Public Health Service’s developing relationships with other federal agencies. The emerging PHS programs to prevent and control air pollution from federal facilities, the PHS role in preventing pollution arising from transportation systems aided under the new Urban Mass Transportation Act, and other developing interagency relationships and problem areas are discussed in this context.     

CHANGES IN WATER POLICY IN THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA1

ABSTRACT: Ideology has predisposed the People's Republic of China against the use of prices to allocate water. Prolonged drought in north China has made the Chinese more aware of their unfavorable water resource inventory and the expense of expanding supply. Therefore, as part of the economic liberalization commenced since the death of Mao Zedong, China has started to make more active use of pricing to regulate demand and reduce the need for supply expansion.     

Not seeing eye to eye: differences in supervisor and subordinate perceptions of and attributions for psychological contract breach

This study examines supervisor and subordinate perceptions of and attributions for psychological contract breach. The data suggest that supervisor and subordinate perceptions are most likely to differ on the extent to which the organization violated its obligations to provide fair pay, advancement opportunities, and a good employment relationship. In addition, the results indicate that the greater the degree of psychological contract breach reported by subordinates, the less committed they are to the organization and the lower their job performance (as rated by their supervisor). Moreover, when psychological contract breach is perceived, supervisors' and subordinates' attributions regarding the reasons for the breach are likely to differ. Specifically, the findings suggest that subordinates are more likely to attribute breach to the organization's intentional disregard for the commitments that it had made to the employee, while supervisors are more inclined to attribute breach to situations beyond the organization's direct control. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Public perceptions and attitudes towards an established managed realignment scheme: Orplands,Essex, UK

Where appropriate, managed realignment is the preferred policy option for sustainable coastal defences in the UK, since it provides both economic and ecological advantages. Until recently however, research has failed to address the social implications of this policy option having only acknowledged that communities in general, show reluctance in conceding land to the sea. Orplands managed realignment scheme is the third in a series of case studies to address a variety of social issues, but with a particular focus on the public acceptance of schemes and public confidence in the Environment Agency. It is hypothesised that local residents will be more accepting of a realignment scheme the longer it is in the public domain, rather than at its inception or construction. This paper presents findings from the Orplands scheme and demonstrates that overall scheme acceptance was greater at this site in comparison to previous case studies. Despite this, respondents did not show any more confidence in the Environment Agency and this has been attributed to their general scepticism towards a statutory body and the lack of recent contact between the various stakeholders. It is suggested that the development of criteria for consultation and public participation would facilitate public acceptance of managed realignment schemes.     

Ambient concentrations and correlations of hydrocarbons and halocarbons in the vicinity of an airport

Concentrations of sixteen volatile hydrocarbons present in internal combustion engine exhaust gases and two halogenated hydrocarbons have been measured in ambient air samples at six sites around Gatwick Airport. Correlations between their concentrations have been drawn in an attempt to establish the exact nature of the sources of these emissions, together with consideration of the overall hydrocarbon profiles.     

Cephalodiscus sp. (Hemichordata: Pterobranchia): observations of functional morphology,behavior and occurrence in shallow water around Bermuda

A pterobranch hemichordate, Cephalodiscus sp., was collected from Bermuda just below the low-tide mark in July 1983 and again in October through December 1983. This is the third report of this genus in shallow water and the second for the Western Hemisphere. Specimens were observed alive in the laboratory. Colonies consist of zooids at various stages of development arranged in clusters inside a translucent, collagenous coenecium. Cilia-driven currents of the zooids are used in a method of filter-feeding similar to phylactolaemate bryozoans.     

The fate of chlorobenzenes and permethrins during anaerobic sewage sludge digestion

Mixed primary sewage sludge was incubated anaerobically with and without azide addition to prevent biological activity. The behaviour of 1,3-, 1,4- and 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3,5-, 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3,4- and 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene, hexachlorobenzene, and cis- and trans-permethrin was examined to determine their potential removal during anaerobic digestion. All the chlorobenzenes were removed to varying extents over 32 days of incubation, ranging from 25% removal for 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene to 80% removal for 1,4-dichlorobenzene. Biodegradation may have been responsible for the reductions in 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene and 1,2,4- and 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene as there was no significant removal of these compounds in azide treated sludge. The removal over 32 days of cis- and transpermethrin was 87% and 96% respectively. These removals were attributed to a chemical or physical process.     

A life-cycle comparison of alternative automobile fuels

We examine the life cycles of gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), and ethanol (C2H5OH)-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) automobiles. Port and direct injection and spark and compression ignition engines are examined. We investigate diesel fuel from both petroleum and biosources as well as C2H5OH from corn, herbaceous bio-mass, and woody biomass. The baseline vehicle is a gasoline-fueled 1998 Ford Taurus. We optimize the other fuel/powertrain combinations for each specific fuel as a part of making the vehicles comparable to the baseline in terms of range, emissions level, and vehicle lifetime. Life-cycle calculations are done using the economic input-output life-cycle analysis (EIO-LCA) software; fuel cycles and vehicle end-of-life stages are based on published model results. We find that recent advances in gasoline vehicles, the low petroleum price, and the extensive gasoline infrastructure make it difficult for any alternative fuel to become commercially viable. The most attractive alternative fuel is compressed natural gas because it is less expensive than gasoline, has lower regulated pollutant and toxics emissions, produces less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and is available in North America in large quantities. However, the bulk and weight of gas storage cylinders required for the vehicle to attain a range comparable to that of gasoline vehicles necessitates a redesign of the engine and chassis. Additional natural gas transportation and distribution infrastructure is required for large-scale use of natural gas for transportation. Diesel engines are extremely attractive in terms of energy efficiency, but expert judgment is divided on whether these engines will be able to meet strict emissions standards, even with reformulated fuel. The attractiveness of direct injection engines depends on their being able to meet strict emissions standards without losing their greater efficiency. Biofuels offer lower GHG emissions, are sustainable, and reduce the demand for imported fuels. Fuels from food sources, such as biodiesel from soybeans and C2H5OH from corn, can be attractive only if the co-products are in high demand and if the fuel production does not diminish the food supply. C2H5OH from herbaceous or woody biomass could replace the gasoline burned in the light-duty fleet while supplying electricity as a co-product. While it costs more than gasoline, bioethanol would be attractive if the price of gasoline doubled, if significant reductions in GHG emissions were required, or if fuel economy regulations for gasoline vehicles were tightened.     

Energy's role in the extraversion (dis)advantage: How energy ties and task conflict help clarify the relationship between extraversion and proactive performance

While academic and practitioner literatures have proposed that extraverts are at an advantage in team‐based work, it remains unclear exactly what that advantage might be, how extraverts attain such an advantage, and under which conditions. Theory highlighting the importance of energy in the coordination of team efforts helps to answer these questions. We propose that extraverted individuals are able to develop more energizing relationships with their teammates and as a result are seen as proactively contributing to their team. However, problems in coordination (i.e., team task conflict) can reverse this extraversion advantage. We studied 27 project‐based teams at their formation, peak performance, and after disbandment. Results suggest that when team task conflict is low, extraverts energize their teammates and are viewed by others as proactively contributing to the team. However, when team task conflict is high, extraverts develop energizing relationships with fewer of their teammates and are not viewed as proactively contributing to the team. Our findings regarding energizing relationships and team task conflict clarify why extraversion is related to proactive performance and in what way, how, and when extraverts may be at a (dis)advantage in team‐based work. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.