Search

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.02.019 Byline: Marc J. Stern (a), S. Andrew Predmore (a), Michael J. Mortimer (b), David N. Seesholtz (c) Abstract: We conducted a survey of 3321 Forest Service employees involved in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) followed by five focus groups to investigate agency views of the purpose of agency NEPA processes and their appropriate measures of success. Results suggest the lack of a unified critical task for Forest Service NEPA processes and that employees' functions relevant to NEPA influence their views of its meaning. Compared to other agency personnel, members of interdisciplinary teams who carry out most day-to-day NEPA-related tasks placed greater emphasis on minimizing negative environmental and social impacts, satisfying multiple stakeholders and avoiding litigation and appeals. Line officers, who typically serve as the decision makers following NEPA processes, placed greatest emphasis on efficient implementation and least emphasis on minimizing impacts. Advisory personnel placed greatest emphasis on effective disclosure of analyses and decision-making. We discuss the structural origins of these differences as well as their implications. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Cheatham Hall (0324), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA (b) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Northern Virginia Center, Rm 411, 7054 Haycock Road, Falls Church, VA 22043, USA (c) U.S. Forest Service Focused Science Delivery Program, Pacific Northwest Research Station c/o Boise National Forest, 1249 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709, USA Article History: Received 2 September 2009; Revised 21 January 2010; Accepted 9 February 2010

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2010.02.016 Byline: Marc J. Stern (a), S. Andrew Predmore (a), Michael J. Mortimer (b), David N. Seesholtz (c) Abstract: We conducted an online survey (n = 3321) followed by five focus groups with Forest Service employees involved in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to explore agency views of how NEPA should be implemented within the agency. We filter these perceptions through the lenses of different functional groups within the agency, each with its own role in agency compliance with NEPA and its own suite of perceived accountabilities. In doing so, we uncover areas of consensus regarding valued practices as well as tensions between employees with different roles in NEPA compliance. General consensus exists regarding the importance of the effective functioning of interdisciplinary teams, but opinions about what constitutes an effective team vary. Findings suggest that NEPA serves as a playing field for competing accountabilities felt by line officers, disciplinary specialists, and advisory personnel within the agency, as each attempts to exert influence over NEPA processes and their outcomes. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Cheatham Hall (0324), Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA (b) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Northern Virginia Center, Rm 411, 7054 Haycock Road, Falls Church, VA 22043, USA (c) U.S. Forest Service Focused Science Delivery Program, Pacific Northwest Research Station c/o Boise National Forest, 1249 S. Vinnell Way, Suite 200, Boise, ID 83709, USA Article History: Received 2 September 2009; Revised 21 January 2010; Accepted 10 February 2010

Nitrogen removal is a problem in the field of water treatment, especially in the presence of sulfate. Conventional nitrification and denitrification are usually carried out in two separate reactors. In addition, the effect of sulfate on hydrogenotrophic denitrification is not clear. In this study, simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) for nitrogen removal from water was conducted using a single novel up-flow bio-electrochemical reactor (UBER). The influence of dissolved oxygen (DO) on nitrogen removal was investigated. When influent DO was 7.0-8.0 mg L-1, a heterotrophic nitrification zone (with DO 3.2-5.5 mg L-1) and a hydrogenotrophic denitrification zone (with DO 1.6-4.2 mg L-1) were obtained within the reactor, and the removal rates of NH4+-N and TN reached more than 90%. The distribution of DO inside developing biofilms was measured using microelectrodes. When DO in the hydrogenotrophic denitrification zone was 2.9 mg L-1, DO inside the biofilm was just 0.5 mg L-1. The effect of sulfate on hydrogenotrophic denitrification was studied by regulating the S/N ratio of influent water. Simultaneous removal of nitrate and sulfate can be achieved at low S/N, and the removal rates of nitrate and sulfate were ~80%. With increasing S/N ratio, sulfide produced by sulfate reduction inhibited both denitrification and further sulfate reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ruthenium purple (RP) films on transmissive tin-doped indium oxide (ITO)/glass substrates have been synthesised by an electrochemical coagulation technique using an aqueous RP colloidal suspension prepared from separate very dilute aqueous solutions of iron(III) chloride and potassium hexacyanoruthenate(II), with dilute potassium chloride as supporting electrolyte solution. To aid stability of the RP films, ruthenium(III) chloride was added to the RP colloidal suspension. Using the CIE (Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage) system of colorimetry, the colour stimulus of the electrochromic RP films and the changes that take place on reversibly switching to the colourless form have been calculated from in situ visible spectra recorded under electrochemical control. On electrochemical reduction, the intensely absorbing bright purple mixed-valence iron(III) hexacyanoruthenate(II) chromophore is reduced to the colourless iron(II) hexacyanoruthenate(II) form. Sharp and reversible changes in the hue and saturation occur, as shown by the track of the CIE 1931 xy chromaticity coordinates. Concurrently, as the purple chromophore is bleached, a large increase in the relative luminance of the electrochromic film is observed. For the purple state, the CIELAB 1976 colour space coordinates were L* =64, a* =27 and b* =−36, with a complementary wavelength (λ c) calculated as 555nm, in excellent agreement with the absorption maximum (λ max) of 550nm for the intervalence charge-transfer (IVCT) band. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) is incorporated into the planning and decision-making culture of all natural resource agencies in the U.S. Yet, we know little about how the attitudes and internal interactions of interdisciplinary (ID) teams engaged in NEPA processes influence process outcomes. We conducted a web-based survey of 106 ID team leaders involved with environmental analyses (EA) or environmental impact statements (EIS) for projects dealing with recreation and travel management on national forests. We explore how they define success in these processes and identify factors most powerfully associated with perceptions of positive outcomes. The survey revealed a tremendous diversity in definitions of success. Strong correlations between the perceived importance of particular indicators of success and their achievement suggest that pre-conceived notions may often help to shape process outcomes. Regression analyses revealed the following factors as the best predictors of ID team leaders'' perception of an “excellent outcome”: achievement of the agency mission, whether compromise had taken place between the interested parties, team satisfaction and harmony, timely process completion, and project implementation. Yet, respondents consistently ranked compromise with interested parties and team member satisfaction among the least important measures of successful NEPA processes. Results suggest that clarifying appropriate measures of success in NEPA processes across the agency could make ID team performance more consistent. The research also suggests that greater attention to ID team interactions, both internally and between teams and interested publics, could result in better outcomes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Forest modeling has moved beyond the realm of scientific discovery into the policy arena. The example that motivates this review is the application of models for forest carbon accounting. As negotiations determine the terms under which forest carbon will be accounted, reported, and potentially traded, guidelines and standards are being developed to ensure consistency, accuracy, transparency and verifiability. To date, these guidelines have focused on definitions, data, and reporting, not models. The goal of this paper is to synthesize literature that may inform the development of guidelines for the application of models in areas with policy implications, such as forest carbon accounting. We discuss validation, verification, and evaluation as applied to modeling, and review common components of model evaluation. Peer review, quantitative analysis of model results, and sensitivity analysis are the most widely used approaches to model evaluation. US judicial and legislative perspectives on criteria for model acceptability are summarized. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Around two-thirds of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are incidental discoveries during the investigation of backache, hip pain or urinary tract complaints. They are much more common in men than women (5:1) and account for 2% of all deaths in men aged >60 yr. Open surgical repair of the aneurysm is considered as the standard, traditional method of treatment. Surgery is recommended when the AAA exceeds 55 mm in anteroposterior diameter as measured by ultrasound scan. The risk of spontaneous rupture depends on aneurysm size, ranging from <1% per annum for AAA <55 mm diameter to >17% per annum for aneurysms >60 mm diameter. Ninety per cent of AAAs are located distal to the renal arteries.Endovascular repair of an aortic aneurysm using an in-situ prosthetic graft was suggested as a technique in 1969 by Dotter, but was only first performed successfully by Parodi and colleagues in 1990. Over the last 10 yr, the availability of endovascular stent grafts has provided an alternative treatment for patients with AAA, especially the elderly with significant co-existing medical conditions. Endovascular repair is much less invasive. However, it is challenging technically and requires a multidisciplinary approach.During endovascular surgery, an aortic stent graft is passed via the femoral arteries through the aortic lumen to fit tightly above and below the AAA. The aim is to exclude the aneurysm sac from the systemic circulation, thereby decreasing or eliminating the risk of future rupture. The procedure is performed through incisions in one or both groins; no laparotomy is required. However, certain anatomical considerations apply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The liability United States (U.S.) tree owners face from hazardous trees on their private properties has and continues to undergo a transformation. The traditional common law legal test focused upon whether a tree owner had acted to create a hazardous condition on the property. The modern trend is towards a test that imposes greater responsibility and greater uncertainty on tree owners and arborists. Abandoning the natural/artificial distinction, the modern test, adopted in half the U.S. jurisdictions, imposes general principles of negligence on tree owners. This paper discusses the U.S. legal context for hazardous trees, particularly the impacts on individual tree owners. It closes by addressing various practical means to minimize the risks associated with the modern legal standards, both for susceptible tree owners, and for professionals assessing the subject property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The AC impedance characteristics of planar solid-state electrochemical carbon monoxide (CO) sensors with Nafion® as the solid polymer electrolyte are reported. For a re-cast Nafion® sensor design, Nyquist plots indicated very high impedances (107–108 Ω), which slightly decreased with an increase in the working electrode surface area (0.25–0.50 cm2). Only one enlarged semi-circle was observed, relating to an equivalent circuit with a geometrical capacitance (Cg) in parallel with a bulk resistance (Rb). In contrast, a sensor design using a commercial membrane produced a system with a much lower impedance (<103 Ω), with Nyquist plots showing a flattened semi-circle at high frequencies (due to Cg and Rb in parallel), followed by the start of a large semi-circle (due to the double-layer capacitance, Cdl, in parallel with the charge-transfer resistance, Rct) over a lower frequency range. On addition of CO, the second circular arc reduced in size, indicating that the interfacial impedance of the electrochemical system had decreased. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Pollutant metals (Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd) in Late Flandrian mudflat/saltmarsh sediments in the Severn Estuary are predominantly bound in the carbonate, Fe/Mn oxide and organic phases. Comparison of the oxic Rumney Formation with the suboxic Wentlooge Formation shows that redox conditions control iron cycling, and that this in turn controls trace metal associations. An important fraction of the trace metals present in the Fe/Mn oxide phase in oxic sediments (such as the Rumney Formation) is remobilised during iron reduction and reprecipitated in otherphases such as authigenic carbonates (as in the Wentlooge). Since many metal pollutants are highly redox sensitive, a better understanding of the effects of redox on metal speciation in estuarine sediments is useful for management of the coastal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrient pore-water profiles, sediment-water exchange and sediment characteristics were measured for six intertidal mudflat sites throughout the Humber Estuary over the different seasons. The Humber is a highly dynamic, non steady state system and hence neither the biogeochemical zones nor the macrofaunal communities were sustained for long periods of time. Sediment mixing and resuspension on tidal, episodic or seasonal timescales was the predominant control on nutrients. Over an annual cycle, mean measured fluxes were -8.7 mmoles/m2/day nitrate, 3.7 mmoles/m2/day ammonia and 0.2 mmoles/m2/day nitrite. Net phosphate and silicate fluxes were very small. The intertidal mudflats were a sink for nitrate (-1000 kmol/day), a major source of ammonia (430 kmol/day) and a minor source of nitrite (25 kmol/day). Nitrate influxes decreased in a seaward direction (-13.4 mmoles/m2/day in inner estuary, -11.0 mmoles/m2/day in mid-estuary, -5.2 mmoles/m2/day in outer estuary), but when the area of the mudflats in each area is taken into account, both the mid and outer estuary were sinks for approximately 40% of the total nitrate taken up. In contrast, the outer estuary wasthe source of c. 90% of the ammonia and 105% of the nitrite (the inner estuary being a minor sink of nitrite). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on the connection between certain class II HLA alleles such as DRB1*1454 and DRB1*1401 to white Europeans (WE) and Indo-Asian (IA) patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) in Great Britain. It mentions that the novel allele DRB1*1454 is associated with WE individuals who have acquired PV. It also discusses that families who are living away with their ethnic origin maintains its genetic susceptibility to PV.

Abstract: Secondary homochiral lithium amides derived from α-methylbenzylamine undergo highly diastereoselective conjugate additions to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters. The corresponding β-amino acids are readily liberated by successive N-debenzylation and ester hydrolysis, furnishing (R)-β-amino butyric acid, (R)-β-amino pentanoic acid, (S)-β-leucine, (R)-β-amino octanoic acid, (S)-β-phenylalanine, (S)-β-tyrosine methyl ether, (S)-β-tyrosine hydrochloride and (S)-β-(2-methoxyphenyl)-β-amino propanoic acid in high yields and high ee. The application of this procedure to the synthesis of the natural products (R)-β-DOPA and (R)-β-lysine is demonstrated. The development of a simplified one-pot reaction protocol applicable to the multi-gram scale synthesis of homochiral β-amino esters is also delineated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]