Are the costs worth the benefits? Shared perception and the aggregation of organizational climate ratings

A definitional component of organizational climate is the focus on employees' shared perceptions of the focal climate domain. To operationalize the notion of sharedness, researchers typically aggregate employees' domain‐specific climate perceptions to a higher level and justify this aggregation using quantitative indices of agreement. In the current paper, I argue that although accounting for sharedness among employees can provide some valuable insight, our overreliance on sharedness obscures some of the very organizational phenomena of interest. I discuss this issue by focusing on four costs of making unfounded assumptions regarding sharedness: (a) Aggregation assumes individual differences are a function of random error; (b) aggregation assumes that social situations are uniform across employees; (c) aggregation assumes that the unit of analysis is clear‐cut; and (d) aggregation assumes the group mean is meaningful. I argue that researchers carefully need to weigh the costs of violating these assumptions against the expected benefits of aggregating employees' climate perceptions, recognizing that sometimes employees' perceptions (i.e., psychological climate) might provide greater insight into phenomena of interest. Although I discuss these costs within the context of organizational climate research, these arguments apply to other research areas where individual perceptions are aggregated (e.g., research on leadership and teams).     

Computing sustainable manufacturing index with fuzzy analytic hierarchy process

The growing industrial interest in adopting sustainability programmes has ushered in studies regarding sustainability indicators which have continually flourished in current literature. However, limited attention is given to the development of priority ranking, which is an important input for any adopting firm. This paper presents a hybrid multi-criteria approach in determining priority areas in sustainable manufacturing (SM). Using fuzzy analytic hierarchy process to address uncertainty in hierarchical decision-making, this paper determines SM priority strategies and eventually identifies even lower level strategies. The computed sustainable manufacturing index is presented at both the organizational and operational levels for a real case study of an industrial plastic manufacturing firm. This work provides a detailed and transparent hierarchical decision-making approach based on SM framework, the use of which could be valuable to practicing managers across industries in their pursuit of greater sustainability.     

Fuzzy experts on recreational vessels, a risk modelling approach for marine invasions

Understanding risks from the human-mediated spread of non-indigenous species (NIS) is a critical component of marine biosecurity management programmes. Recreational boating is well-recognised as a NIS pathway, especially at a regional scale. Assessment of risks from this pathway is therefore desirable for coastal environments where recreational boating occurs. However, formal or quantitative risk assessment for the recreational vessel pathway is often hampered by lack of data, hence often relies on expert opinion. The use of expert opinion itself is sometimes limited by its inherent vagueness, which can be an important source of uncertainty that reduces the validity and applicability of the assessment. Fuzzy logic, specifically interval type-2 fuzzy logic, is able to model and propagate this type of uncertainty, and is a useful technique in risk assessment where expert opinion is relied upon. The present paper describes the implementation of a NIS fuzzy expert system (FES) for assessing the risk of invasion in marine environments via recreational vessels. The FES was based on expert opinion gathered through systematic elicitation exercises, designed to acknowledge important uncertainty sources (e.g., underspecificity and ambiguity). The FES, using interval type-2 fuzzy logic, calculated an invasion risk value (integrating NIS infection and detection probabilities) for a range of invasion scenarios. These scenarios were defined by all possible combinations of two vessel types (moored and trailered), five vessel components (hull, deck, internal spaces, anchor, fishing gear), two infection modes (fouling, water/sediment retention) and six frequently visited marine habitats (marina, mooring, farm, ramp, wharf, anchorage). Although invasion risk values determined using the FES approach was scenario-specific, general patterns were identified. Moored vessels consistently showed higher invasion risk values than trailered vessels. Invasion risk values were higher for anchorages, moorings and wharves. Similarly, hull-fouling was revealed as the highest infection risk mode after pooling results across all habitats. The NIS fuzzy expert system presented here appears as a valuable prioritising and decision-making tool for NIS research, prevention and control activities. Its easy implementation and wide applicability should encourage the development and application of this type of system as an integral part of biosecurity, and other environmental management plans.     

基于T-S模糊神经网络的大沽河水质变化特征分析研究

基于T-S模糊神经网络,利用大沽河2010年-2015年水质监测数据,选取溶解氧、化学需氧量、高锰酸盐指数、氨氮、总氮、总磷对水质具有重要影响的6项指标,建立适用的水质评价模型,对大沽河水质变化特征进行分析.结果显示:上游水质评价结果明显优于中游、下游水质评价结果,网络评价水质等级变化趋势同真实指标数据变化趋势一致.验证结果充分表明了T-S模糊神经网络用于水质变化特征分析是可行、有效的.     

活性污泥絮体的分形结构分析

通过小角光散射(small-angle light scattering,SALS)实验确定出活性污泥絮体的分形区域,对絮体粒径分布进行了拟合分析,采用原子力显微镜(AFM)和激光共聚焦扫描显微镜(CLSM)对絮体在不同尺度下的形貌进行了观测.结果显示,污泥絮体是由一系列的絮团结合而成,絮体表面凹凸不平,有各种"孔洞","缝隙",絮体内部存在一系列的孔隙.较大尺度的絮体同时存在多种孔道结构,构成絮体中营养物和水流的运输通道;污泥絮体在0.5～50μm之间具有明显的分形结构,表明活性污泥絮体在较小的粒径时已经具有一定的分形特征,活性污泥的粒度分布属于Gamma分布方式,证明污泥絮体的成长过程是一种絮团-絮团的凝聚过程.     

Influences of perfluorooctanoic acid on the aggregation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes

The aggregation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) in the aqueous phase not only inhibits their extensive utilization in various aspects but also dominates their environmental fate and transport.The role of surfactants at low concentration in the aggregation of MWCNTs has been studied,however the effect of perfluorinated surfactants at low concentration is uncertain.To understand this interfacial phenomenon,the influences of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA),and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a control,on MWCNT aggregation in the aqueous phase were examined by the UV absorbency method.Influences of pH and cationic species on the critical coagulation concentration (CCC) value were evaluated.The CCC values were dependent on the concentration of PFOA,however a pronounced effect of SDS concentration on the CCC values was not observed.The CCC values of the MWCNTs were 51.6 mmol/L in NaCl and 0.28 mmol/L in CaCl 2 solutions,which suggested pronounced differences in the effects of Na+ and Ca2+ ions on the aggregation of the MWCNTs.The presence of both PFOA and SDS significantly decreased the CCC values of the MWCNTs in NaCl solution.The aggregation of the MWCNTs took place under acidic conditions and was not notably altered under neutral and alkaline conditions due to the electrostatic repulsion of deprotonated functional groups on the surface of the MWCNTs.     

非点源污染影响下清河水库小流域水质模糊综合评价

针对铁岭市2011年饮用水源地清河水库小流域内水质状况,建立模糊综合评价数学模型,通过分析非点源污染对水质的影响进行水污染风险综合评价。目的是定量分析评价清河水库水环境质量现状和存在的问题。计算结果表明:清河水库小流域水质较差,水库入口、红花甸、聂家沟、曾家屯、腰堡的水质均属于V类水,说明水库水质已受到严重污染,而非点源污染是造成水库水质污染和波动性变化的主要原因和影响因素,急需进行科学的治理,否则将带来严重的环境、经济和社会损失。     

燃煤、燃气锅炉综合效益模糊评价及分析结果——以乌鲁木齐市集中供热锅炉为例

以乌鲁木齐市某集中供热站锅炉节能减排方案为例,通过建立供热锅炉实施方案综合评价指标体系,运用层次分析法确定方案各项指标权重,利用模糊综合评判法分别从锅炉燃煤、燃气情况下的环境效益、经济效益以及设施能耗、物耗等指标着手,进行综合评价,并对集中供热锅炉燃煤与燃气方案综合评判结果进行分析,最终评选出较优实施方案。评选结果表明:燃气方案综合效益较好,可有效实现节能减排,为今后燃气锅炉建设提供一定的参考作用。     

基于模糊数学方法的资源类企业环境绩效评价——以兰花科创为例

文章阐述了现有环境绩效计量模型的不足,分析统计了国内外有关环境绩效评价的研究成果及手册、指南和法规中高频指标,在此基础上结合环境指标和财务指标建立了资源企业环境绩效评价体系,运用层次分析法和模糊数学的方法对兰花科创进行实证研究,得出其综合评价结果为82.558分,应控制用水量和减少烟尘的排放。以期将企业为环境所作的贡献量化,促进可持续发展战略在企业的具体实践。     

模糊控制技术在污水处理中的应用

针对污水处理过程中采用传统的流量程序控制和时间程序控制的不足,提出了一种基于单片机的模糊控制方法。该方法以污水流量、溶解氧(DO)浓度和污泥回流比为主要被控对象,以DO浓度为主要控制参数,通过离散计算和在线查表的模糊推理方法可得到最佳的风机转速,使污水处理生化池内DO浓度保持在最佳状态,同时还通过控制曲线展示了当输入污水流量发生扰动时对DO浓度的控制精度,使污水处理质量保持稳定。通过实际应用表明,该控制方法不但能确保出口净化水水质达标,还可以节约15%的电能。