Frequency versus time lost measures of absenteeism: Is the voluntariness distinction an urban legend?

We investigate a long‐standing methodological rule of thumb, the idea that the frequency of absenteeism from work approximates an expression of voluntary behavior while total time lost better reflects involuntary behavior and ill health. Conducting original meta‐analyses and using results from existing meta‐analyses, we determine that time lost and frequency are equally reliable, that the relationship between them approximates unity when corrections for measurement artifacts are applied, and that there is very little evidence for differential criterion‐related validity predicated on the voluntariness distinction. We supply new meta‐analytic estimates of the reliability of absenteeism adjusted for aggregation period and determine that most extant meta‐analyses of the correlates of absenteeism have markedly under‐corrected for unreliability. Our results question the basic construct validity of the time lost–frequency distinction, and they contradict the practice of using “trigger points” that factor absence frequency into attendance monitoring and associated discipline systems so as to discourage short‐term absenteeism, assumed to be volitional. We conclude that the idea that time lost and frequency reflect different degrees of voluntariness is an unsupported urban research legend. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

It is time for justice: How time changes what we know about justice judgments and justice effects

Organizational justice is an important determinant of workplace attitudes, decisions, and behaviors. However, understanding workplace fairness requires not only examining what happens but also when it happens, in terms of justice events, perceptions, and reactions. We organize and discuss findings from 194 justice articles with temporal aspects, selected from over a thousand empirical justice articles. By examining temporal aspects, our findings enrich and sometimes challenge the answers to three key questions in the organizational justice literature relating to (i) when individuals pay attention to fairness, including specific facets, (ii) how fairness judgments form and evolve, and (iii) how reactions to perceived (in)justice unfold. Our review identifies promising avenues for empirical work and emphasizes the importance of developing temporal theories of justice. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Optimal sizing and siting of renewable energy resources in distribution systems considering time varying electrical/heating/cooling loads using PSO algorithm

Distributed Generation (DG) sources based on Renewable Energy (RE) can be the fastest growing power resources in distribution systems due to their environmental friendliness and also the limited sources of fossil fuels. In general, the optimal location and size of DG units have profoundly impacted on the system losses in a distribution network. In the present article, the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm is employed to find the optimal location and size of DG units in a distribution system. The optimal location and size of DG units are determined on the basis of a multi-objective strategy as follows: (i) the minimization of network power losses, (ii) the minimization of the total costs of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), (iii) the improvement of voltage stability, and (iv) the minimization of greenhouse gas emissions. The related distribution system was assumed to be composed of the fuel cells, wind turbines, photovoltaic arrays, and battery storages. The electrical, cooling, and heating loads were also considered in this article. The heating and cooling requirements of the system consist of time varying water heating load, space heating load, and space cooling load. In this study, the waste and fuel cell were used to produce the required heating and cooling loads in the distribution system. In addition, the absorption chiller was used to supply the required space cooling loads. A detailed performance analysis was carried out on 13 bus radial distribution system to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed methodology.     

Integrating Temporal Inequality into Conservation Planning to Improve Practice Design and Efficacy

In contrast to spatial inequality, there are currently no methods for leveraging information on temporal inequality to improve conservation efficacy. The objective of this study was to use Lorenz curves to quantify temporal inequality in surface runoff and tile drainage, identify controls on nutrient loading in these flowpaths, and develop design flows for structural conservation practices. Surface runoff (n = 94 site‐years) and tile drainage (n = 90 site‐years) were monitored on 40 fields in Ohio. Results showed, on average, 80% of nitrate‐nitrogen, soluble reactive phosphorus (P), and total P loads occurred between 7 and 12 days per year in surface runoff and between 32 and 58 days per year in tile drainage. Similar temporal inequality between discharge and load provided evidence that loading was transport‐limited and highlighted the critical role hydrologic connectivity plays in nutrient delivery from tile‐drained fields. Design flow criterion for sizing structural practices based on load reduction goals was developed by combining Lorenz curves and flow duration curves. Comparing temporal inequality between fields and the Maumee River, the largest tributary to the western Lake Erie Basin, revealed challenges associated with achieving watershed load reduction goals with field‐scale conservation. In‐field (i.e., improved nutrient and water management), edge‐of‐field (i.e., structural practices), and instream practices will all be required to meet nutrient reduction goals from tile‐drained watersheds.     

Butterfly community shifts over two centuries

Environmental changes strongly impact the distribution of species and subsequently the composition of species assemblages. Although most community ecology studies represent temporal snap shots, long‐term observations are rather rare. However, only such time series allow the identification of species composition shifts over several decades or even centuries. We analyzed changes in the species composition of a southeastern German butterfly and burnet moth community over nearly 2 centuries (1840–2013). We classified all species observed over this period according to their ecological tolerance, thereby assessing their degree of habitat specialisation. This classification was based on traits of the butterfly and burnet moth species and on their larval host plants. We collected data on temperature and precipitation for our study area over the same period. The number of species declined substantially from 1840 (117 species) to 2013 (71 species). The proportion of habitat specialists decreased, and most of these are currently endangered. In contrast, the proportion of habitat generalists increased. Species with restricted dispersal behavior and species in need of areas poor in soil nutrients had severe losses. Furthermore, our data indicated a decrease in species composition similarity between different decades over time. These data on species composition changes and the general trends of modifications may reflect effects from climate change and atmospheric nitrogen loads, as indicated by the ecological characteristics of host plant species and local changes in habitat configuration with increasing fragmentation. Our observation of major declines over time of currently threatened and protected species shows the importance of efficient conservation strategies.     

Kinetics of endosulfan sorption on to wood charcoal

Abstract

A part of the research work conducted to evaluate the efficiency of a locally available low cost wood charcoal in removing endosulfan, an organochlorine insecticide, has been presented here in this paper. In the batch experiments conducted at 1 mg/I initial concentration of endosulfan, it was found that wood charcoal could remove endosulfan from water up to 95%. Kinetic profiles were developed for various conditions and they followed second order kinetic reactions. Adsorption equilibrium time was determined by two different approaches namely rough estimate and 2% slope criteria. The equilibrium time was found to be 5 hrs. Forward, reverse, and overall reaction rate constants were determined by approximating the kinetic data to the first order reversible kinetic model. Rate constants increased with increasing initial concentration of endosulfan. Rate limiting process was determined by using kinetics data and further confirmed by the multiple interruption test. Pore and film diffusion coefficients were determined from the half time equations. Film diffusion appeared to be the rate limiting which was further supported by the multiple interruption test.     

包气带土层中石油污染物的微生物降解研究

在包气带土层中污染物的生物降解过程中,营养物水平是重要的限制性因素.笔者通过测定土层中的氮和磷组分的含量,以及生物降解速率的实验研究,测得淄河河滩土层每kg干土中可生物利用的氮为0.814 7 g,可生物利用的磷为36.9 mg,相对微生物的生长来说二者均严重不足,无法满足生物降解要求.研究表明,翻耕供氧,大大强化了生物降解过程.同时,根据柱层析分析结果确定三种石油组分降解速率分别为:芳香烃>脂肪烃>胶质.      

农业气候资源多时间尺度分析——以郑州市小麦玉米为例

小波分析的时域局部变化特征可展现气候序列的精细结构,能够揭示不同时间尺度气候序列所隐含的不同变化规律,是进行时域分析的有力工具。论文以郑州市小麦、玉米生育期间的光热水农业气候资源分析为例,用Morlet小波变换法对其进行多时间尺度变化特征及演变规律分析。结果表明:郑州小麦、玉米生育期间的光热水气候要素具有不同的年际及年代际时间尺度周期变化规律和转换特征;小波变换能很好地揭示农业气候资源变化所包含的周期分量;其气候变化特征与全球气候变化趋势相比,有其一致性,也有其局地特殊性。     

限期治理法律制度若干问题研究

以环境管理法律制度的可适用性和可操作性为立足点,从制度完善和创新的角度出发,对现行限期治理制度中存在的法律问题和现实障碍进行了系统的分析和论证.同时,结合实际工作,针对性地提出立法建议,通过将限期治理权限赋予环保部门,进一步明确限期治理的条件,完善限期治理的程序和形式,规定限期治理期间排污单位应承担的义务,以促进限期治理制度功能的发挥,提高环境管理能力.      

蜂窝陶瓷固定化细胞气升式内循环生物反应器的水力学特性

在鼓泡塔式 (BubbleColumns ,BC)和气升式循环 (AirliftLoop ,AL)生物反应器基础上 ,于内循环管中加装蜂窝陶瓷载体 ,开发出蜂窝陶瓷固定化细胞的气升式内循环生物反应器 (Internal Airlift Loop Bioreactor with Cells Immobilized onto Ceramic Honeycomb Support,IALBR-CICHS) .采用示踪技术通过测定反应器的水力停留时间分布来考察上述 3种反应器的有效工作体积和反应器内走旁路流体的比例 .实验和理论分析表明 ,IALBR-CICHS可大大提高反应器的有效工作体积 ,减少流体走旁路的比例 .