Effect of an acidic and readily-biodegradable non-hazardous industrial process waste on refuse decomposition

Non-hazardous industrial process wastes are receiving increased interest from landfill owners, especially with respect to bioreactor operation. These wastes could benefit bioreactors as they represent sources of liquid, nutrients, and/or substrate as well as revenue. However, landfill operators should exercise caution in accepting these wastes, as some could have detrimental effects on refuse decomposition. In this research, the use of laboratory-scale tests to evaluate the effect of one such waste on refuse decomposition is demonstrated. The waste evaluated, referred to as burnt sugar, is an acidic byproduct of corn-based polylactic acid production and represents a source of readily-biodegradable carbon. Lactic acid was the primary constituent of the BS at 0.73 g/g and the COD was measured at 1230 mg COD/g. Testing protocols were adapted to address the specific concerns surrounding the material. Abiotic dissolution tests conducted at mesophilic temperatures indicated that the majority of the waste dissolved into leachate recirculated over a layer of the waste within several days. Abiotic mixing tests suggested that the waste would acidify refuse to pH 6.41 at a loading of 21.9 g/dry kg refuse. However, in biologically active tests, the refuse was able to convert loadings as high as 196.7 g/dry kg refuse to methane. As the loadings increased toward and beyond this level, pronounced detrimental effects to the refuse ecosystem were observed, including a decrease in pH, accumulation of volatile fatty acids and COD, and lag in methane production. The results suggested that actively decomposing refuse has the potential to attenuate relatively high loading of a rapidly degradable but acidic substrate. Nonetheless, caution in the implementation of a field program to accept rapidly biodegradable acidic wastes is critical.     

Changing Governments and Changing Environmental Policies in Ontario: A discourse analysis

In 1995 the Progressive Conservative Party (PC) defeated the New Democratic Party (NDP) to form the government in the province of Ontario, Canada. These parties represent different positions regarding the management, regulation and control of environmental affairs. The effects of provincial legislation on the environment are typically felt at the local level and hence we argue that this study has relevance for those interested in local environments. One policy paper regarding the environment for each party is analysed using a formal discourse analysis technique called textual analysis computing tools (TACT). The rationale for using TACT is included, as is a brief commentary on previous studies that have used discourse analysis to examine environmental issues. The results of the analysis indicate the different ways that the NDP and the PC express their philosophical positions as applied to environmental policy making in Ontario. The shift in 1995 from the social democratic and interventionist stance of the NDP with respect to environmental policy making toward the more corporate, free-market privatisation regime of the PC is demonstrated. Close attention is paid in the discourse analysis to the use of words like 'cost', 'economy' and 'environment' in the two documents analysed. The use of language in a government position paper creates meaning and significance to citizens in the context of their local environment. En 1995 el Partido Conservador Progresista (PC) vencio al Nuevo Partido Democratico (NDP) para formar el gobierno en la provincia de Ontario, Canada. Estos partidos representan diferentes posiciones con respecto al manejo, regulación y control de los asuntos ambientales. Los efectos de la legislación provincial en el ambiente son sentidos típicamente a nivel local y por lo tanto nosotros argumentamos que este estudio tiene relevancia para los interesados en ambientes locales. Un documento de cada partido de politicas concernientes al medio ambiente es analizado usando una técnica de análisis de discurso formal llamada TACT. La razón para usar TACT es incluida yá que es un leve comentario sobre estudios previos que han usado análisis de discurso para examinar temas ambientales. Los resultados del análisis indican las diferentes formas que el NDP y el PC expresan su posiciones filósoficas como aplicación a la creación de politicas ambientales en Ontario. El cambio en 1995 de la actitud intervencionista y social-democrata del NDP con respecto a la creación de politicas ambientales hacia una postura mas corporativa de regimen de privatización de mercado libre del PC es demostrado. En los dos documentos analizados se presta una detenida atención en el análisis de discurso al uso de palabras como 'costo', 'economía', y 'ambiente'. El uso del lenguaje en un documento de la posición del gobierno crea sentido y significado a los ciudadanos en el contexto de su ambiente local.     

What Food is “Good” for You? Toward a Pragmatic Consideration of Multiple Values Domains

What makes a food good, for you? With respect to food, the expression “good for you” usually refers to the effect of the food on the nutritional health of the eater, but it can also pertain more broadly. The expression is often used by a person who is concerned with another person’s well-being, as part of an exhortation. But when framed as a question and addressed to you, as an individual, the question can require a response, calling for accountability beyond the realm of nutrition or other material qualities of the food. Economic value may be considered as a ratio: goodness/price. In this paper, we examine the numerator, exploring a broad range of values domains related to food, attempting to obtain a more comprehensive understanding of the meaning of goodness of food. We present a typology of values domains with respect to food, divided into three main categories: (1) material considerations, (2) psychological, psychosocial, and spiritual health, and (3) the well-being of society. This understanding that results from comprehensive consideration of these values domains has important implications for an individual for use in considering the question “what food is good for you?” in order to guide his or her future actions, helping to distinguish between what Dewey termed immediate good and reasonable good. A pragmatic approach to a fuller consideration of food-related values domains by individuals also has broad social, political, and economic implications. If, according to the FAO, food security involves both needs and preferences, consideration of what preferences are appropriate is fundamental to achieving food security. The questions about what is considered to be good food are central to questions about the sorts of food and agricultural systems human societies will seek to sustain. The approach to resolving this important aspect of sustainability might help inform a more general question as to appropriate limitations on preferences, a question fundamental to achieving sustainability in general.     

Whole-body vibration and postural stress among operators of construction equipment: a literature review

INTRODUCTION: Operators of construction equipment perform various duties at work that expose them to a variety of risk factors that may lead to health problems. A few of the health hazards among operators of construction equipment are: (a) whole-body vibration, (b) awkward postural requirements (including static sitting), (c) dust, (d) noise, (e) temperature extremes, and (f) shift work. It has been suggested that operating engineers (OEs) are exposed to two important risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders: whole-body vibration and non-neutral body postures. METHOD: This review evaluates selected papers that have studied exposure to whole-body vibration and awkward posture among operators of mobile equipment. There have been only few studies that have specifically examined exposure of these risk factors among operators of construction equipment. Thus other studies from related industry and equipment were reviewed as applicable. CONCLUSION: In order to better understand whole-body vibration and postural stress among OEs, it is recommended that future studies are needed in evaluating these risk factors among OEs.     

Riparian Ecosystem Management Model: Sensitivity to Soil,Vegetation, and Weather Input Parameters1

Abstract: The Riparian Ecosystem Management Model (REMM) was developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture‐Agriculture Research Service (USDA‐ARS) and its cooperators to design and evaluate the efficiency of riparian buffer ecosystems for nonpoint source pollution reduction. REMM requires numerous inputs to simulate water movement, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling in the buffer system. In order to identify critical model inputs and their uncertainties, a univariate sensitivity analysis was conducted for nine REMM output variables. The magnitude of each input parameter was changed from ?50% to +50% from the baseline data in 12 intervals or, in some cases, the complete range of an input was tested. Baseline model inputs for the sensitivity analysis were taken from Gibbs Farm, Georgia, where REMM was tested using a 5‐year field dataset. Results of the sensitivity analysis indicate that REMM responses were most sensitive to weather inputs, with minimum daily temperature having the greatest impact on the nitrogen‐related outputs. For example, the 100% change (?50% to +50%) in minimum daily temperature input values yielded a 164.4% change in total nitrogen (N), a 109.3% change in total nitrate (NO₃), and a 127.1% change in denitrification. REMM was most sensitive to precipitation with regard to total flow leaving the riparian vegetative buffer zone (199.8%) and sediment yield (138.2%). Deep seepage (12.2%), volumetric water content (24.8%), and pore size index (6.5%) in the buffer soil profile were the most influential inputs for the output water movement. Sediment yield was most sensitive to Manning’s coefficient (46.6%), bare soil percent (40.7%), and soil permeability (6.1%). For vegetation, specific leaf area, growing degree day coefficients, and maximum root depth influenced the nitrogen related outputs. Overall results suggest that because of the high sensitivity to weather parameters, on‐site weather data is needed for model calibration and validation. The model’s relatively low sensitivity to vegetation parameters also appears to support the use of regional vegetation datasets that would simplify model implementation without compromising results.     

Bacterial sources,pathways and management strategies for urban runoff

The microbiological quality of diffuse impermeable surface runoff is described in terms of bacterial densities and pathogens observed within urban catchments in North London and Milton Keynes and the use of somatic bacteriophages as faecal indicators are evaluated. The studies show the occurrence of faecal indicator organisms (FIOs) and pathogens to be ubiquitous in stormwater runoff from all types of urban land use surfaces, with the possible exception of major highways. Urban catchments in North London show a progressive downstream increase in FIOs and pathogens consonant with increasing urbanization and incidence of stormwater outfalls and combined sewer overflows (CSOs). Surface water FIOs and pathogens appear to be predominantly of non‐human origin being primarily derived from animal and bird sources, although the effect is over‐ridden in the presence of misconnections and CSO discharges. A combination of infrastructure improvement, end‐of‐pipe detention, source control and more robust local authority regulation is recommended for effective management and remediation of bacteriological urban water quality.     

Identifying relationships between baseflow geochemistry and land use with synoptic sampling and R-mode factor analysis

The relationship between land use and stream chemistry is often explored through synoptic sampling of rivers at baseflow conditions. However, baseflow chemistry is likely to vary temporally and spatially with land use. The purpose of our study is to examine the usefulness of the synoptic sampling approach for identifying the relationship between complex land use configurations and stream water quality. This study compares biogeochemical data from three synoptic sampling events representing the temporal variability of baseflow chemistry and land use using R-mode factor analysis. Separate R-mode factor analyses of the data from individual sampling events yielded only two consistent factors. Agricultural activity was associated with elevated levels of Ca2+, Mg2+, alkalinity, and frequently K+, SO4(2-), and NO3-. Urban areas were associated with higher concentrations of Na+, K+, and Cl-. Other retained factors were not consistent among sampling events, and some factors were difficult to interpret in the context of biogeochemical sources and processes. When all data were combined, further associations were revealed such as an inverse relationship between the proportion of wetlands and stream nitrate concentrations. We also found that barren lands were associated with elevated sulfate levels. This research suggests that an individual sampling event is unlikely to characterize adequately the complex processes controlling interactions between land use and stream chemistry. Combining data collected over two years during three synoptic sampling events appears to enhance our ability to understand processes linking stream chemistry and land use.     

An examination of the mobilisation of elements from the skin and bone of the bog body Lindow II and a comparison with Lindow III

The elemental content of samples of tissues derived from a 2,000-year old bog body, Lindow II, are described and the interchange of elements between the body and the surrounding or encompassing anaerobic peat medium is examined. A comparison is made of the chemical ‘fingerprint’ of Lindow II as compared with another bog body referred to as Lindow III. The application of body paint is noted. The bone has retained much of its structure and the Haversian Canal system is recognisable. The presence of a fungus mycelium on the skin samples is noted.     

CUSUM environmental monitoring in time and space

We consider the situation where there are n sampling sites in an area, with an environmental variable measured at some or all of the sites at m sample times. We assume that there is interest in knowing whether the environmental variable displays systematic changes over time at the sites. A cumulative sum type of analysis with associated randomization tests has been proposed before for this situation, when there is negligible correlation between the observations in different times at one site, and no correlation between the results at different sites. A modification that allows for serial correlation at the individual sites but with no correlation between sites has also been proposed before. In the present paper we discuss how the method can be modified further to allow for spatial correlation between the sites, by applying it only to a reduced set of sites that are far enough apart to give effectively independent results. Simulation results indicate that this strategy is effective providing that the level of spatial correlation is not too high.     

Status inconsistency in organizations: From social hierarchy to stress

This paper adopts the concept of status inconsistency from the wider sociological literature in order to explain one of the social psychological processes possibly underlying the linkage between organizational demography and occupational stress. In doing so, we review the methodological and theoretical difficulties that arise in applying status inconsistency to an organizational setting. After explicitly discussing our assumptions, we develop out of the literature a series of propositions explicating the nature of the relationships between demography, status, status inconsistency and occupational stress. In offering these propositions we not only attempt to show how status inconsistency may be used to explain many of the empirical relations found to exist between demography and occupational stress, but also try to show the potential value of the status inconsistency concept as both an independent and dependent variable in general organizational research.