Pesticides in urban multiunit dwellings: hazard identification using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis

Many units in public housing or other low-income urban dwellings may have elevated pesticide residues, given recurring infestation, but it would be logistically and economically infeasible to sample a large number of units to identify highly exposed households to design interventions. Within this study, our aim was to devise a low-cost approach to identify homes in public housing with high levels of pesticide residues, using information that would allow the housing authority and residents to determine optimal strategies to reduce household exposures. As part of the Healthy Public Housing Initiative, we collected environmental samples from 42 public housing apartments in Boston, MA, in 2002 and 2003 and gathered housing characteristics; for example, household demographics and self-reported pesticide use information, considering information available with and without a home visit. Focusing on five organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides, we used classification and regression tree analysis (CART) to disaggregate the pesticide concentration data into homogenous subsamples according to housing characteristics, which allowed us to identify households and associated networks impacted by the mismanagement of pesticides. The CART analysis demonstrated reasonable sensitivity and specificity given more extensive household information but generally poor performance using only information available without a home visit. Apartments with high concentrations of cyfluthrin, a pyrethroid of interest given that it is a restricted use pesticide, were more likely to be associated with Hispanic residents who resided in their current apartment for more than 5 yr, consistent with documented pesticide usage patterns. We conclude that using CART as an exploratory technique to better understand the home characteristics associated with elevated pesticide levels may be a viable approach for risk management in large multiunit housing developments.     

Prüfanforderungen des Umweltbundesamtes zur Bewertung der Auswirkungen von Pflanzenschutzmitteln auf terrestrische Pflanzen

The fundamental data requirements for the authorization of plant protection products and the inclusion of active ingredients in Annex I of Council Directive 91/414/EEC are described in the Annexes II and III of this Directive. Definite instructions with regard to preconditions and for implementation and methodology (guidelines) concerning investigations with terrestrial plants are deficient. In the following, the scientific data requirements are explained for assessing the effects of plant protection products on terrestrial plants.     

Freshwater systems and ecosystem services: Challenges and chances for cross-fertilization of disciplines

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened in the world, while providing numerous essential ecosystem services (ES) to humans. Despite their importance, research on freshwater ecosystem services is limited. Here, we examine how freshwater studies could help to advance ES research and vice versa. We summarize major knowledge gaps and suggest solutions focusing on science and policy in Europe. We found several features that are unique to freshwater ecosystems, but often disregarded in ES assessments. Insufficient transfer of knowledge towards stakeholders is also problematic. Knowledge transfer and implementation seems to be less effective towards South-east Europe. Focusing on the strengths of freshwater research regarding connectivity, across borders, involving multiple actors can help to improve ES research towards a more dynamic, landscape-level approach, which we believe can boost the implementation of the ES concept in freshwater policies. Bridging these gaps can contribute to achieve the ambitious targets of the EU’s Green Deal.     

Persistence of Violation and Crash Behavior Over Time

This analysis examines the ability of previous offenses to predict future high-risk offenses, and similarly, the ability of crashes to predict future high-risk crashes, using the complete driver history data (up to 9 years) for a set of young Michigan subjects. As expected, those with previous ticketed offenses or reported crashes are at greater risk for future offenses or crashes; with a previous-year serious offense doubling the odds of serious offenses during the subsequent year, and a previous-year at-fault crash increasing the odds of subsequent-year at-fault crashes by nearly 50%. There is modest evidence that serious offenses and at-fault crashes may better predict subsequent behavior in females and in more experienced drivers. This latter finding is also evidenced by the fact that records of these young drivers are less predictive of subsequent driving history than is true for records of all drivers in general found in other studies. This suggests that, in the early stages of driving, offenses and crashes are, at least in part, attributable to inexperience, and hence, characteristic of all beginning drivers.     

Effects of equilibration time on photoreactivity of the pollutant DDE sorbed on natural sediments

Photolysis of the hydrophobic pollutant 1,1-$\text{bis}$($\text{p}$-chlorophenyl)-2,2-dichloroethylene (DDE) was studied in aqueous suspensions of three well-characterized sediments. Results of the study can be described by equations that are based on a kinetic model that takes into account sorption kinetics. Analysis of the kinetic data using this model indicates that the sorbed DDE is, at equilibrium, about half in reactive sites and half in sites where the DDE is unreactive.     

Genetic and Demographic Threats to the Black Rhinoceros Population in the Ngorongoro Crater

A resident population of 13 black rhinoceros ( Diceros bicornis ) persist in Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania. The effective population size ( N _e ) may be as few as 5 animals. Projected growth for this population suggests that the effective population size will remain small for the near future, threatening this Iocal population with extinction due to the stochastic factors associated with small population size. A summary of historic and recent demographic data for this population reveals a population crash during the period of heavy poaching that affected this species throughout its range. Although poaching of this species has been brought under control the population remains small. These data and models of projected population growth argue for consideration of more-intensive management within the framework of the small population paradigm. This case is an example of applied conservation resulting from this paradigm used in conjunction with rather than competing with the declining population paradigm. We identify additional monitoring, particularly of density-dependent behaviors, that will be necessary for designing a successful management program. Finally, the use of molecular markers for developing an accurate pedigree for this population is suggested in order to maintain a genetically healthy population. These strategies have broad applicability to black rhinoceros conservation throughout Africa.     

DESIRED AND ACHIEVED OUTCOMES IN FEDERAL WATER RESOURCES PLANNING1

ABSTRACT Local or project level planning occurs within most federal water resources programs. Such planning involves both federal and local participants, and commonly involves a range of interest groups. It is necessary to know what goals these participants believe the planning process ought to achieve in order to design planning procedures which will meet their expectations. Social judgment analysis was used to elicit those goals for respondents who had participated in one of five different federal water resources programs, in one of five different roles. Respondents also evaluated the extent to which the planning activities in a recent project in which they had participated had actually attained the posited goals. The respondents believed that responsiveness to local problems was significantly more important than resolving conflicts or increasing public understanding. A fourth goal, achieving national objectives, was believed to be less important than the other three. No significant differences in these goal evaluations were associated with the type of program in which the respondents had participated. However, there were significant differences associated with the respondent's role in the planning process. Respondents' ratings of the effectiveness of actual planning projects varied by both program and respondent role.     

ANALYSIS OF HYDRILLA-INHIBITING FRACTIONS IN NATURAL WATERS: THE CONCEPT OF “FINGERPRINTING” THROUGH LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY1

ABSTRACT: High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) has been used to identify a fraction of aqueous sediment extract from Lake Starvation, Hillsborough County, Florida, that is responsible for inhibition of hydrilla growth. The fraction was separated on a Zorbax? C₁₈ preparative-scale column. The present study examines various lake sediment extracts and river water samples to determine the presence or absence of the inhibitor peak. The biologically active component is absent in certain rivers where hydrilla is prominent, but it is present in extracts of Lake Starvation and White Trout Lake sediments that are known to have hydrilla growth inhibiting properties. The implications of “fingerprinting” natural waters for hydrilla inhibitor through liquid chromatography are considered.     

The organizational tenure — Job involvement relationship: A job-career experience explanation

Research on the job involvement-organizational tenure relationship has shown no consistent relationship, but recent job and career experience models suggest that a relationship should be found. Using data from three organizations (n = 216), polynomial regression analysis revealed a curvilinear job involvement-organizational tenure relationship. This finding is discussed with reference to changes in workplace sensemaking that occur as work experience is accumulated.