Occurrence of the non-native annual bluegrass on the Antarctic mainland and its negative effects on native plants

Few non-native species have colonized Antarctica, although increased human activity and accelerated climate change may increase their number, distributional range, and effects on native species on the continent. We searched 13 sites on the maritime Antarctic islands and 12 sites on the Antarctic Peninsula for annual bluegrass (Poa annua), a non-native flowering plant. We also evaluated the possible effects of competition between P. annua and 2 vascular plants native to Antarctica, Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) and Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica). We grew the native species in experimental plots with and without annual bluegrass under conditions that mimicked the Antarctic environment. After 5 months, we measured photosynthetic performance on the basis of chlorophyll fluorescence and determined total biomass of both native species. We found individual specimens of annual bluegrass at 3 different sites on the Antarctic Peninsula during the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 austral summers. The presence of bluegrass was associated with a statistically significant reduction in biomass of pearlwort and hairgrass, whereas the decrease in biomass of bluegrass was not statistically significant. Similarly, the presence of bluegrass significantly reduced the photosynthetic performance of the 2 native species. Sites where bluegrass occurred were close to major maritime routes of scientific expeditions and of tourist cruises to Antarctica. We believe that if current levels of human activity and regional warming persist, more non-native plant species are likely to colonize the Antarctic and may affect native species.     

Changes in Avian and Plant Communities of Aspen Woodlands over 12 Years after Livestock Removal in the Northwestern Great Basin

Abstract: Riparian and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) woodlands are centers of avian abundance and diversity in the western United States, but they have been affected adversely by land use practices, particularly livestock grazing. In 1990, cattle were removed from a 112,500‐ha national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon. Thereafter, we monitored changes in vegetation and bird abundance in years 1–3 (phase 1) and 10–12 (phase 2) in 17 riparian and 9 snow‐pocket aspen plots. On each 1.5‐ha plot, we sampled vegetation in 6 transects. Three times during each breeding season, observers recorded all birds 50 m to each side of the plot's 150‐m centerline for 25 minutes. We analyzed data with multivariate analysis of variance and paired t tests with p values adjusted for multiple comparisons. In both periods, riparian and snow‐pocket aspen produced extensive regeneration of new shoots ( stems/ha and 7079 stems/ha, respectively). By phase 2, a 64% increase in medium‐diameter trees in riparian stands indicated successful recruitment into the overstory, but this pattern was not seen in snow‐pocket stands, where the density of trees was over 2 times greater. By phase 2 in riparian and snow‐pocket stands, native forb cover had increased by 68% and 57%, respectively, mesic shrub cover had increased by 29% and 58%, and sagebrush cover had decreased by 24% and 31%. Total avian abundance increased by 33% and 39% in riparian and snow‐pocket aspen, respectively, ground or understory nesters increased by 133% and 67% and overstory nesters increased by 34% and 33%. Similarly, ground or understory foragers increased by 25% and 32%, aerial foragers by 55% and 57%, and overstory foragers by 66% and 43%. We interpreted the substantial regeneration of aspen shoots, increased densities of riparian forbs and shrubs, and increased avian abundances as a multitrophic‐level response to the total removal of livestock and as substantial movement toward recovery of biological integrity.     

Evaluation of potential responses to invasive non-native species with structured decision making

In managing invasions and colonizations of non-native species, eradication or control efforts must proceed quickly. There are 2 challenges in taking such quick action. First, managers frequently have to choose among complex and often competing environmental, social, and economic objectives. Second, the effects are highly uncertain. We applied participatory structured decision making (SDM) to develop a response plan for the recent invasion of non-native myrtle rust (Uredo rangelii) in Australia. Structured decision making breaks a complex decision process into 5 steps: identify problems (i.e., decisions to be made), formulate objectives, develop management alternatives, estimate consequences of implementing those alternatives, and select preferred alternatives by evaluating trade-offs among alternatives. To determine the preferred mid- to long-term alternatives to managing the rust, we conducted 2 participatory workshops and 18 interviews with individuals to elicit stakeholders' key concerns and convert them into 5 objectives (minimize management cost, minimize economic cost to industry, minimize effects on natural ecosystems and landscape amenities, and minimize environmental effects associated with use of fungicide) and to identify the 5 management alternatives (full eradication, partial eradication, slow spread, live with it [i.e., major effort invested in mitigation of effects], and do nothing). We also developed decision trees to graphically represent the essence of the decision by displaying the relations between uncertainties and decision points. In the short term or before local expansion of myrtle rust, the do-nothing alternative was not preferred, but an eradication alternative was only recommended if the probability of eradication exceeded about 40%. After the expansion of myrtle rust, the slow-the-spread alternative was preferred regardless of which of the short-term management alternatives was selected at an earlier stage. The participatory SDM approach effectively resulted in informed and transparent response plans that incorporated multiple objectives in decision-making processes under high uncertainty.     

粒状铁与甲醇支持的生物-化学联用法去除富氧地下水中硝酸盐

针对富氧地下水中硝酸盐,采用粒状铁和甲醇支持的生物-化学联用法开展了批实验研究,优化了脱氮反应参数,初步探讨了脱氧脱氮的能力及途径。结果表明,该法的优化参数是粒状铁种类为GI-北京,m（粒状铁）∶m（水）为3∶800,粒状铁粒径为0.425~1.0 mm,反应时间为5 d,甲醇用量为210.59 mg.L-1。生物-化学法、粒状铁和好氧异养菌完全脱氧所需的时间分别是174、206和2 746 min。生物-化学法脱氧依赖于粒状铁化学还原和好氧异养菌有氧呼吸,并且前者起着关键作用。随着反应时间的增加,异养脱氮、自养脱氮和化学还原各自引起的NO3-去除率亦增加。当反应时间≤5 d时,自养脱氮和化学还原的去除率均〈10%,而当反应时间为5 d时,生物-化学法的NO3-去除率达到近100%。生物-化学法内存在异养脱氮、自养脱氮和化学还原3种脱氮途径,其中异养脱氮是最主要的途径,且三者存在共生、协同和促进作用。生物-化学法脱氮期间硝酸盐还原速率≥亚硝酸盐还原速率。生物-化学法去除地下水中硝酸盐是有效可行的。     

General and specific measures in organizational behavior research: Considerations,examples, and recommendations for researchers

Deliberation over and relative preference for general or specific (broad or narrow) constructs has long been an important issue in organizational behavior research. In this article, we provide a review of this general issue and some specific recommendations for researchers. We begin by discussing whether the general versus specific issue is an important debate and by discussing other underlying issues (the role of researcher preferences, distinction between reflective and formative indicators, and distinction between constructs and measures of constructs). Building on Chen's (this issue) analysis of core self‐evaluations, we first discuss how the general–specific debate has progressed in core self‐evaluations research. We then discuss three other important areas in which this debate has played out: intelligence, five‐factor model of personality, and job attitudes. Finally, we offer a framework to help guide decisions about whether to utilize general measures, specific measures, or both and conclude by providing recommendations for the use of general and specific measures in organizational behavior research. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Masters of the long haul: Pursuing long‐term work goals

We investigate work motivation in the unstudied domain of individuals who pursue very long‐term goals. We highlight the fact that the preponderance of research findings on the psychology of work motivation is based on short‐term studies and discuss the potential relevance to long‐term motivation of literatures including long‐term thinking and time horizons, long‐term goals and goal pursuit, and self‐regulation. We adopt the qualitative research strategy of theory elaboration, with a specific intention of elaborating goal‐setting theory. Analysis of interview data from a unique sample of scientists and others pursuing goals spanning decades or more yielded a structure of psychological factors that can enhance, support, and sustain motivation for the long term. Reconciling our findings with existing goal theories, we develop an integrative model of motivating factors and self‐regulation processes underlying long‐term goal pursuit. We discuss the implications, including an expanded focus for our field on motivating people for the long run. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A meta‐analysis of the interrelationships between employee lateness,absenteeism, and turnover: Implications for models of withdrawal behavior

We meta‐analyzed the correlations between voluntary employee lateness, absenteeism, and turnover to (i) provide the most comprehensive estimates to date of the interrelationships between these withdrawal behaviors; (ii) test the viability of a withdrawal construct; and (iii) evaluate the evidence for competing models of the relationships between withdrawal behaviors (i.e., alternate forms, compensatory forms, independent forms, progression of withdrawal, and spillover model). Corrected correlations were .26 between lateness and absenteeism, .25 between absenteeism and turnover, and .01 between lateness and turnover. These correlations were even smaller in recent studies that had been carried out since the previous meta‐analyses of these relationships 15–20 years ago. The small‐to‐moderate intercorrelations are not supportive of a withdrawal construct that includes lateness, absenteeism, and turnover. These intercorrelations also rule out many of the competing models of the relationships between withdrawal behaviors, as many of the models assume all relationships will be positive, null, or negative. On the basis of path analyses using meta‐analytic data, the progression of withdrawal model garnered the most support. This suggests that lateness may moderately predict absenteeism and absenteeism may moderately predict turnover. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Parametric approach of the domino effect for structural fragments

More specific and accurate probabilistic models of the numbers of fragments generated respectively by Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosions (BLEVEs), Mechanical Explosions (MEs), Confined Explosions (CEs), and Runaway Reactions (RRs) of a horizontal cylindrical vessel were developed using the maximum entropy principle based on historical accident data. The theoretical results from the four probability density functions were compared to the observed data, and the numbers of fragments followed discrete exponential distributions in the interval [1, 9]. Beside the summary of the probabilistic distributions of the other random variables in the process of fragment projection, the effects on the fragment trajectory and target terms were investigated using a parametric approach. The results showed that using the complete model, wind shear, turbulence, and absence of fragment rotation caused the fragments to impact within shorter distances; fragment rotation and lack of wind decreased the probability of impact within a given distance, but the rupture probability of the target was not affected by fragment rotation or wind. The probabilistic confidence intervals of fragment range, impact, and target penetration became narrower with the number of simulation runs, but the accuracy of the results increased. The probability of fragment impact increased with the volume of the target vessel and the degree of filling of the explosion vessel, but did not depend on the kind of explosion. The probability of target rupture increased slowly with the degree of filling of the explosion vessel, but was little influenced by the volume of the target vessel or the kind of explosion.     

基于循证方法的施工现场安全事故预防体系研究

为提高施工现场安全绩效,构建基于循证方法的施工现场安全事故预防体系。阐明施工现场安全循证预防(EBP)的定义、内涵、核心思想,梳理循证预防解决安全问题的思路,并且提出施工现场安全管理循证预防的流程框架。结果表明:针对施工现场安全事故预防中的不足,循证方法解决问题的思路体现在理论和方法 2个层面;施工现场安全管理循证预防体系分为循证诊断和循证干预2个阶段,具体包括安全检查表、框架表示法、荟萃(Meta)分析等关键步骤。     

CFAST在大空间火灾模拟中的应用研究

为了实现区域模拟软件CFAST在大空间火灾模拟中的应用,深入研究多区域模拟的模拟效果,引入了均匀划分和局部加密的两种多区域模拟方法.采用与实验研究相结合的方法,与测量结果对比,发现采用均匀区域划分方法时,在满足CFAST允许的区域总数要求和每个区域符合CFAST推荐的区域尺寸比例的条件下,采用的区域越多,模拟结果越精确;同时,采用在火源附近区域分布密集的局部加密划分方法,模拟效果优于均匀划分方法,烟气层最高温度相对实验测量结果的误差仅为4.3％,更接近实际.