Heidelberg University (Ohio)

About: Heidelberg University (Ohio) is a education organization based out in Tiffin, Ohio, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Eutrophication & Tributary. The organization has 101 authors who have published 184 publications receiving 8272 citations. The organization is also known as: Heidelberg College & Heidelburg College.

Changes in Water Quality of Grand Lake St. Marys Watershed Following Implementation of a Distressed Watershed Rules Package

Abstract: Grand Lake St. Marys watershed has drawn attention over the past decade as water quality issues resulting from nutrient loading have come to the forefront of public opinion, political concern, and scientific study. The objective of this study was to assess long-term changes in water quality (nutrient and sediment concentrations) following the distressed watershed rules package instituted in 2011. Since that time, a variety of rules (e.g., winter manure ban) and best management practices (cover crops, manure storage or transfers, buffers, etc.) have been implemented. We used a general linear model to assess variation in total suspended solids, particulate phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), nitrate N, and total Kjeldahl nitrogen concentrations from daily Chickasaw Creek (drains ∼25% of watershed) samples spanning 2008 to 2016. Parameters were related to flow (higher values during high flows), timing (lower values during winter months), and the implementation of the distressed watershed rules package (lower values following implementation). Overall, reductions following the distressed designation for all parameters ranged from 5 to 35% during medium and high flow periods (with exception of SRP). Reductions were even more pronounced during winter months covered by the manure ban, where all parameters (including SRP) exhibited decreases at medium and high flows between 20 and 60%. While the reductions seen in this study are significant, concentrations are still highly elevated and continue to be a problem. We are optimistic that this study will serve to inform future management in the region and elsewhere.

Unintentional drinking-water contamination events of unknown origin: surrogate for terrorism preparedness

Abstract: Drinking-water is a direct conduit to many human receptors. An intentional attack (e.g. terrorism) on drinking-water systems can shock and disrupt elements of national infrastructures. We report on an unintentional drinking-water contamination event that occurred in Tel Aviv, Israel in July, 2001. Initially of unknown origin, this event involved risk management strategies used by the Ministry of Health for abating a potential public health crisis as might be envisaged of water contamination due to terrorism. In an abrupt event of unknown origin, public health officials need to be responsible for the same level of preparedness and risk communication. This is emphasized by comparison of management strategies between the Tel Aviv event and one of dire consequences that occurred in Camelford, England in 1988. From the onset of the Tel Aviv incident, the public health strategy was to employ the precautionary principle by warning residents of the affected region to not drink tap water, even if boiled. This strategy was in contrast to an earlier crisis that occurred in Camelford, England in 1988. An outcome of this event was heightened awareness that a water crisis can occur in peacetime and not only in association with terrorism. No matter how minor the contamination event or short-term the disruption of delivery of safe drinking-water, psychological, medical and public health impact could be significant.

Differences in Thinking Styles of Artists and Engineers

Abstract: Seventy-one professional fine artists and 147 engineers completed Sternberg's Intellectual Styles Questionnaire (R. J. Sternberg & R. K. Wagner, 1991). Artists preferred less external input in their work than engineers preferred, and engineers were more inclined to prioritize their thinking. Artists preferred devising their own plans significantly more than did engineers. Artists and engineers both like to make things, and individuals in both professions share high visual-spatial abilities (Gelade, 2002; Harrison, Hunt, & Jackson, 1955; Holland, 1997; Holtzman, Swartz, & Thorpe, 1971; Humphreys, Lubinski, & Yao, 1993; Kandel, 1940; Roe, 1956; Roy, 1996; Strong, 1952). Despite these commonalities, however, previous research has indicated that artists have higher aesthetic interests than do engineers (Kunert, 1969), higher emotionality (Keniston, 1982; Roe, 1947), and a more pronounced tendency for personal introspection (Keniston, 1982; Kunert, 1969). Whether they also differ in other respects remained a question awaiting systematic investigation. Anecdotal reports, for instance, suggested that by comparison, engineers are more likely than artists to prioritize their thinking in hierarchies, less likely to "fly by the seat of the pants," so to speak, and are more inclined to accept input from others than to follow their own muse. By contrast, artists have a reputation for preferring an attitude of "anything goes." The present study was undertaken to learn more about the differences between these two occupational groups. Hypotheses Four hypotheses were tendered: 1. By comparison with artists, engineers would be more interested in executing the plans of others. 2. By comparison with engineers, artists would show more interest in devising their own plans. 3. By comparison with artists, engineers would prefer more highly prioritized thinking. 4. By comparison with engineers, artists would be more likely to prefer working without input from others. These differences were expected to be exhibited in participants' scores on the Executive, Legislative, Hierarchic, Anarchic, and Internal scales of the Intellectual Styles Questionnaire (ISQ; Sternberg & Wagner, 1991) when collected from full-time professional fine artists and engineers. Method Participants Artists were solicited at juried art fairs in Michigan and Ohio and at galleries in Ohio and in Ontario, Canada. The artists' residences and principal places of business represented many states. Thirty-six men and 35 women (ages 29-74 years, M- 45 years, SD - 12.25) completed the ISQ at their exhibition sites; all of the artists derived at least 60% of their income from selling their work and winning prizes and awards. Engineers were solicited at receptions for local chapters of their specialty organizations (e.g., Society of Industrial Engineers, Society of Materials Engineers) and at the public areas for a national convention of the Society for Women Engineers, providing 94 women (ages 21-70 years, M = 34.49, SD = 9.52) and 53 men (ages 27-74 years, M = 43.64, SD = 11.27). They represented a wide variety of specialties, for instance, industrial, mechanical, civil, electrical, aeronautical, biomedical, metallurgical, and automotive engineering. Some questionnaires were completed at the site of the meetings; other questionnaires were completed after the meetings and were mailed to me. Instrument The ISQ is a self-administered questionnaire that is composed of 104 self-descriptive sentences. Respondents use a 7-point scale, with a midpoint of 4, to indicate how well each item's description characterizes their thinking. The ISQ has 13 scales of eight questions each. None of the scales share each others' questions (Sternberg & Wagner, 1991). Some of the ISQ scales (e.g., Legislative and Executive) measure respondent's preferred activities. High scores on the Legislative scale indicate that individuals like to invent tiieir own rules. …

Judicial stress: the roles of gender and social support

Abstract: Because judges experience a myriad of occupational stressors, they are at risk of experiencing secondary trauma, burnout, negative mental/physical health, poor job performance and low job satisfaction. These experiences might not be uniform, however, as gender and social support might mitigate such stress-related outcomes. Judges from two states in the United States completed a variety of stress and subjective performance measures. Social support was related to less perceived stress, less burnout, and more job satisfaction, but only for males. This suggests that males and females might receive qualitatively different types of social support. Different types of social support could differ in their ability to buffer judges from these stress-related outcomes. Further, among judges with high social support, females scored higher than males on subjective job performance; the opposite pattern occurred for judges with low social support. Thus, a lack of social support appears to have a negative effect on performance self-appraisals but only for females. Results have implications for the psychological study of stress and for programs designed to reduce judges' stress.