Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is a new type of market-based performance measure for firms, industries, economic sectors, and national economies. The authors discuss the nature and purpose of ACSI and explain the theory underlying the ACSI model, the nation-wide survey methodology used to collect the data, and the econometric approach employed to estimate the indices. They also illustrate the use of ACSI in conducting benchmarking studies, both cross-sectionally and over time. The authors find customer satisfaction to be greater for goods than for services and, in turn, greater for services than for government agencies, as well as find cause for concern in the observation that customer satisfaction in the United States is declining, primarily because of decreasing satisfaction with services. The authors estimate the model for the seven major economic sectors for which data are collected. Highlights of the findings include that (1) customization is more important than reliability in determining customer satisfaction, (2) customer expectations play a greater role in sectors in which variance in production and consumption is relatively low, and (3) customer satisfaction is more quality-driven than value- or price-driven. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of ACSI for public policymakers, managers, consumers, and marketing in general.

The American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) is a new type of market-based performance measure for firms, industries, economic sectors, and national economies. The authors discuss the nature and purpose of ACSI and explain the theory underlying the ACSI model, the nation-wide survey methodology used to collect the data, and the econometric approach employed to estimate the indices. They also illustrate the use of ACSI in conducting benchmarking studies, both cross-sectionally and over time. The authors find customer satisfaction to be greater for goods than for services and, in turn, greater for services than for government agencies, as well as find cause for concern in the observation that customer satisfaction in the United States is declining, primarily because of decreasing satisfaction with services. The authors estimate the model for the seven major economic sectors for which data are collected. Highlights of the findings include that (1) customization is more important than reliability in determining customer satisfaction, (2) customer expectations play a greater role in sectors in which variance in production and consumption is relatively low, and (3) customer satisfaction is more quality-driven than value- or price-driven. The authors conclude with a discussion of the implications of ACSI for public policymakers, managers, consumers, and marketing in general.

Understanding the factors that affect water quality and the ecological services provided by freshwater ecosystems is an urgent global environmental issue. Predicting how water quality will respond to global changes not only requires water quality data, but also information about the ecological context of individual water bodies across broad spatial extents. Because lake water quality is usually sampled in limited geographic regions, often for limited time periods, assessing the environmental controls of water quality requires compilation of many data sets across broad regions and across time into an integrated database. LAGOS-NE accomplishes this goal for lakes in the northeastern-most 17 US states.LAGOS-NE contains data for 51 101 lakes and reservoirs larger than 4 ha in 17 lake-rich US states. The database includes 3 data modules for: lake location and physical characteristics for all lakes; ecological context (i.e., the land use, geologic, climatic, and hydrologic setting of lakes) for all lakes; and in situ measurements of lake water quality for a subset of the lakes from the past 3 decades for approximately 2600-12 000 lakes depending on the variable. The database contains approximately 150 000 measures of total phosphorus, 200 000 measures of chlorophyll, and 900 000 measures of Secchi depth. The water quality data were compiled from 87 lake water quality data sets from federal, state, tribal, and non-profit agencies, university researchers, and citizen scientists. This database is one of the largest and most comprehensive databases of its type because it includes both in situ measurements and ecological context data. Because ecological context can be used to study a variety of other questions about lakes, streams, and wetlands, this database can also be used as the foundation for other studies of freshwaters at broad spatial and ecological scales.

Polychlorinated naphthalene (PCN) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were measured in whole body and fillet of fishes collected from Michigan waters, including the Great Lakes, during 1996−1997. PCNs were found in all the fishes analyzed including those from Siskiwit Lake, a remote lake located near the southern shoreline of Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior. Concentrations of total PCNs in fishes ranged from 19 to 31 400 pg/g, wet wt, and varied depending on sampling location and species. Fishes from the Detroit River contained the greatest concentrations of both PCNs and PCBs. Concentrations of total PCNs in fishes from Michigan waters were significantly correlated with the concentrations of PCBs. As with total PCN concentrations, the profiles of PCN isomer/congener distribution in fishes varied among sampling locations and species. Fishes from the Detroit River contained PCN profile similar to that of Halowax 1014, whereas those from Siskiwit Lake and Lake Superior contained greater proportions of congeners which have great bioaccumulative potential. Estimated concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents (TEQs) of PCNs ranged from 0.007 to 11 pg/g, wet wt. PCN congeners 66/67 and 69 accounted for greater than 80% of the TEQs contributed by PCNs. TEQs contributed by PCBs, estimated based on H4IIE bioassay-derived TEFs, were in the range of 0.06−11 pg/g, wet wt, which were similar to those contributed by PCNs. When international TEFs (I-TEFs) for coplanar PCBs were applied, estimated PCB-TEQs ranged from 0.46 to 79 pg/g, wet wt, which were 5−10 times greater than those that were estimated from H4IIE TEFs. PCB congener 126 contributed greater than 50% of the TEQs contributed by PCBs in all the fishes. Overall, when similarly derived TEFs were used, PCNs contributed 2−57% of the sum of TEQs of PCNs and PCBs.

Since European settlement, over 50 % of coastal wetlands have been lost in the Laurentian Great Lakes basin, causing growing concern and increased monitoring by government agencies. For over a decade, monitoring efforts have focused on the development of regional and organism-specific measures. To facilitate collaboration and information sharing between public, private, and government agencies throughout the Great Lakes basin, we developed standardized methods and indicators used for assessing wetland condition. Using an ecosystem approach and a stratified random site selection process, birds, anurans, fish, macroinvertebrates, vegetation, and physico-chemical conditions were sampled in coastal wetlands of all five Great Lakes including sites from the United States and Canada. Our primary objective was to implement a standardized basin-wide coastal wetland monitoring program that would be a powerful tool to inform decision-makers on coastal wetland conservation and restoration priorities throughout the Great Lakes basin.

Sediment from the upper Detroit and lower Rouge Rivers in southeastern Michigan, USA, were analyzed to examine the distribution of polychlorinated naphthalenes (PCNs), biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and alkylphenolic compounds such as butylphenol, octylphenol, and nonylphenol (NP). Sediments from a non-point source location in Lake Michigan were also analyzed for target compounds. Concentrations of target compounds in the upper Detroit and lower Rouge Rivers varied considerably among locations, and notable spatial variation existed. Concentrations of PCNs and PCDDs/PCDFs in sediments from the upper Detroit and lower Rouge Rivers ranged from 0.08 to 187 ng/g and 69 to 1420 pg/g dry weight, respectively. Total PCBs, PAHs, and NP concentrations ranged from 8 to 25,000, 17 to 44,000, and < 10 to 60,000 ng/g dry weight, respectively. Concentrations of all target compounds except PCNs were significantly correlated with total organic carbon content of sediments. Similarly, concentrations of PCBs, PCDDs, and PCDFs were significantly correlated with each other. The distribution of organic contaminants in the upper reaches of the Detroit River and lower Rouge River suggested the presence of localized, but multiple, sources of contamination for each compound class. Conners Creek combined sewer overflow has been identified as one of the potential sources for the upper Detroit River, where the highest concentrations PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs were found. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and NP concentrations were consistently high in sediment from the lower Rouge River. Analysis of data from selected locations suggested that PCNs contributed a greater proportion of the dioxin-like activity than PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs contributed.

Abstract Working toward a physical understanding of how solar wind/magnetosphere coupling works, four arguments are presented indicating that the solar wind electric field v sw × B sw does not control the rate of reconnection between the solar wind and the magnetosphere. Those four arguments are (1) that the derived rate of dayside reconnection is not equal to solar wind electric field, (2) that electric field driver functions can be improved by a simple modification that disallows their interpretation as the solar wind electric field, (3) that the electric field in the magnetosheath is not equal to the electric field in the solar wind, and (4) that the magnetosphere can mass load and reduce the dayside reconnection rate without regard for the solar wind electric field. The data are more consistent with a coupling function based on local control of the reconnection rate than the Axford conjecture that reconnection is controlled by boundary conditions irrespective of local parameters. Physical arguments that the solar wind electric field controls dayside reconnection are absent; it is speculated that it is a coincidence that the electric field does so well at correlations with geomagnetic indices.

In this review, the role of dietary antioxidants in the prevention of hepatocarcinogenesis is examined. Both human and animal models are discussed. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and selenium are antioxidants that are essential in the human diet. A number of non-essential chemicals also contain antioxidant activity and are consumed in the human diet, mainly as plants or as supplements, including beta-carotene, ellagic acid, curcumin, lycopene, coenzyme Q(10), epigallocatechin gallate, N-acetyl cysteine, and resveratrol. Although some human and animal studies show protection against carcinogenesis with the consumption of higher amounts of antioxidants, many studies show no effect or an enhancement of carcinogenesis. Because of the conflicting results from these studies, it is difficult to make dietary recommendations as to whether consuming higher amounts of specific antioxidants will decrease the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT Global biodiversity is in unprecedented decline and on‐the‐ground solutions are imperative for conservation. Although there is a large volume of evidence related to climate change effects on wildlife, research on climate adaptation strategies is lagging. To assess the current state of knowledge in climate adaptation, we conducted a comprehensive literature review and evaluated 1,346 peer‐reviewed publications for management recommendations designed to address the consequences of climate change on wildlife populations. From 509 publications, we identified 2,306 recommendations and employed both qualitative and quantitative methods for data analysis. Although we found an increase in the volume and diversity of recommendations since 2007, a focus on protected areas (26%, 596 of 2,306 recommendations) and the non‐reserve matrix (12%, 276 of 2,306 recommendations) remained prominent in the climate adaptation literature. Common concepts include protected areas, invasive species, ecosystem services, adaptive management, stepping stones, assisted migration, and conservation easements. In contrast, only 1% of recommendations focused on reproduction ( n = 26), survival ( n = 14), disease ( n = 26), or human‐wildlife conflict ( n = 24). Few recommendations reflected the potential for local‐scale management interventions. We demonstrate limited advancement in preparing natural resource managers in climate adaptation at local, management‐relevant scales. Additional research is needed to identify and evaluate climate adaptation strategies aimed at reducing the vulnerability of wildlife to contemporary climate change. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

Nonylphenol (NP) and its lower ethoxylates, nonylphenol monoethoxylate (NPE1) and nonylphenol diethoxylate (NPE2), can be present in aquatic environments at total concentrations of more than 10 microg/L. They are metabolites of nonylphenol polyethoxylates (NPE) and have been found to be weakly estrogenic. To evaluate bioaccumulation potential and identify potential risks posed by these chemicals, concentrations of NP, NPE1, NPE2, and nonylphenol triethoxylate (NPE3) were determined in the tissues of fish inhabiting various waters in Michigan. This method involves extraction of samples using exhaustive steam distillation with concurrent liquid extraction. Concentrations of NP among all sites and species ranged from <3.3 to 29.1 ng/g, ww and varied little among sites. NPE1 was detectable in some samples but at concentrations less than the method detection limit (16.8 ng/g). Concentrations of NPE2 and NPE3 in all samples were less than their respective MDLs of 18.2 and 20.6 ng/g.

The scope of this paper is to develop a new approach to the two-part wedge method for translational failure analysis of landfills. The upper and lower bound solutions for the landfill stability, i.e., FSmax and FSmin, can be readily determined using this method. Using an average factor of safety, FSave, to replace the true factor of safety, FStrue, the differences between FSave and FStrue are within 5% for most considered cases. The solutions from the new method ensure that the waste strength is not exceeded anywhere within the waste mass. The calculated results agreed well with the results computed from the computer code PCSTABL6. The ability of the new method to calculate the translational failure of waste mass with a predetermined sliding failure face is demonstrated. Also, a waste filling sequence to keep the factor of safety above a stipulated value during the operation phase of the landfilling process can be generated.

Mechanisms of air‐snow exchange of mercury (Hg) during and after atmospheric mercury depletion events (AMDEs) remain poorly constrained and this has limited our understanding of the arctic Hg cycle. We measured the Hg concentrations of surface snow through time and carried out flux chamber experiments during AMDE and non‐AMDE conditions in the spring of 2006 near Barrow, Alaska. Clear skies, low‐velocity onshore winds, and a stable boundary layer characterized the meteorology during this AMDE. Surface snow Hg concentrations (upper 1 cm) increased throughout a 9‐day AMDE from background levels (4.1–15.5 ng/L) to elevated levels (147 and 237 ng/L) at two sampling sites and returned to near‐baseline values within 2 days of AMDE cessation. The Hg concentrations of core samples from the full snowpack did not increase significantly during the AMDE and demonstrate that the Hg enhancement of surface snow resulted from deposition of atmospheric Hg to surface snow. We estimate that complete deposition of background Hg to a height of 200–450 m in the near‐surface troposphere could account for the Hg gains to surface snow during this event. Snow incubated in field‐based flux chambers emitted 4 to 7% of its total Hg content within 1 day and may represent an upper limit for the photo‐reduction rate of “easily” reducible Hg in snow under post‐AMDE conditions. Full‐column snow core samples collected in the late springtime have comparable Hg loads to those observed during the AMDE season and imply that a significant fraction of the Hg deposited during the 3‐month AMDE season was retained until snowmelt at this location.

We present a novel ecosystem‐specific framework for developing nutrient criteria from biological thresholds and predictive modeling (BTPM) and an application of this framework to lakes in Michigan, U.S. The four main components for the BTPM framework are: (1) to predict each ecosystem's ‘expected nutrient concentration’ in the absence of human effects using a predictive model, (2) to identify important biological thresholds along a nutrient gradient (i.e., biological [BIO] benchmarks), (3) to determine each ecosystem's current nutrient concentration, and (4) to use the above information to derive a nutrient criterion for each ecosystem using the BTPM algorithm. The BTPM framework is extremely flexible in that it can be applied to any aquatic ecosystem type or nutrient and the four components can be implemented in a variety of ways. Our BTPM framework has two additional features: it recognizes that prior to human disturbance, ecosystems varied in their natural nutrient concentrations, and it incorporates risk into the decision‐making process. In the simplest scheme, a nutrient criterion is set at a BIO benchmark greater than the expected nutrient concentration. However, to protect ecosystems more conservatively, a criterion is set at current lake nutrient concentrations if current is less than the BIO benchmark. In our application of the BTPM framework, we developed total phosphorus (TP) criteria for a diverse set of 374 lakes in MI. The expected lake TP concentrations in the absence of human effects ranged from 3 µg L −1 to 24 µg L −1 , suggesting that a single criterion approach would not be appropriate.We found two predominant benchmarks in the biological data along the TP gradient, one for zooplankton metrics at 8 µg L −1 , and one for phytoplankton metrics at 18 µg L −1 . We present the sequence of analyses and decisions that could be used to apply this approach in a management context using Michigan lakes as an example.

OBJECTIVE: Obexelimab is an investigational, bifunctional, noncytolytic monoclonal antibody that binds CD19 and FcyRIIb to inhibit B cells, plasmablasts, and plasma cells. This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of obexelimab in the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: During screening, patients with active, non-organ-threatening SLE received corticosteroid injections to ameliorate symptoms while immunosuppressants were withdrawn (≤10 mg/day prednisone equivalent and ≤400 mg/day hydroxychloroquine allowed). Patients with improved disease activity were randomized 1:1 to obexelimab 5 mg/kg intravenously or placebo once every 2 weeks until week 32 or loss of improvement (LOI). RESULTS: In this study, 104 patients were randomized. Analysis of the primary endpoint, proportion of patients reaching week 32 without LOI, used an efficacy-evaluable (EE) population defined as patients who completed the study or withdrew for flare or treatment-related toxicity. This endpoint did not reach statistical significance: 21 of 50 obexelimab-treated patients (42.0%) versus 12 of 42 patients (28.6%) treated with a placebo (P = 0.183). Time to LOI was increased in obexelimab-treated patients versus patients treated with a placebo in the EE (hazard ratio [HR] 0.53, P = 0.025) and intention-to-treat (HR 0.59, P = 0.062) populations. In obexelimab-treated patients, B cells decreased approximately 50%, and trough concentration and inclusion in baseline gene expression clusters with high B cell pathway modules were associated with increased time to LOI. Obexelimab was associated with infusion reactions but was generally safe and well-tolerated. CONCLUSION: Although the primary endpoint was not reached, secondary analysis showed time to LOI was significantly increased in obexelimab-treated patients, and analysis of patient subsets defined by gene expression patterns at baseline suggests a responding subpopulation.

Anticipating, identifying, and prioritizing strategic needs represent essential activities by research organizations. Decided benefits emerge when these pursuits engage globally important environment and health goals, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To this end, horizon scanning efforts can facilitate identification of specific research needs to address grand challenges. We report and discuss 40 priority research questions following engagement of scientists and engineers in North America. These timely questions identify the importance of stimulating innovation and developing new methods, tools, and concepts in environmental chemistry and toxicology to improve assessment and management of chemical contaminants and other diverse environmental stressors. Grand challenges to achieving sustainable management of the environment are becoming increasingly complex and structured by global megatrends, which collectively challenge existing sustainable environmental quality efforts. Transdisciplinary, systems-based approaches will be required to define and avoid adverse biological effects across temporal and spatial gradients. Similarly, coordinated research activities among organizations within and among countries are necessary to address the priority research needs reported here. Acquiring answers to these 40 research questions will not be trivial, but doing so promises to advance sustainable environmental quality in the 21st century. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1606-1624. © 2019 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

The scope of this paper is to develop a new three-part wedge method to analyze translational failure when using an engineered berm to increase landfill space. The possible failure face may pass over the back slope of the berm or pass under the bottom of the berm. This depends on the geometric dimensions of the berm which in turn influences the amount of airspace gained. Each possible failure condition must be checked to make sure both the waste mass and berm remain stable. If the waste boundary is kept to be unchanged, FSover will increase and FSunder will decrease with increase of the back slope of the berm. The critical failure condition may be changed from passing over to passing under the berm by changing the back slope of the berm. If the location of the front toe of the berm is fixed, both FSover and FSunder increase with increased height of the berm, however, the critical failure condition will change from passing under the berm to passing over the berm.

Elevated concentrations of planar, halogenated hydrocarbons have been linked to reproductive problems in a variety of fish-eating birds and mammals in the Great Lakes and in particular Saginaw Bay. Currently, there are no accurate procedures to assess bioavailability of these contaminants. Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans and mono- and non-ortho-chloro-substituted biphenyls in water at the femtogram to picogram per liter range were passively concentrated in semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), and these data were compared to the bioconcentration in co-exposed (caged) channel catfish. Sediment-derived water concentration estimates, calculated from a steady-state partitioning model, did not correlate well to those derived from either fish or SPMDs. The use of SPMDs demonstrated the utility of in-situ passive sampling over inference of water concentrations from accumulation in biota or partitioning with sediment. Residues ac cumulated by SPMDs have been shown to be proportional to analyte water concentration, whereas this does not appear to be the case for fish tissues. The greater amounts of 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran accumulated in SPMDs than in exposed channel catfish indicated those non-passive aspects of bioconcentration in organisms, such as biotransformation and elimination, introduced 50−500% error in the assumed degree of exposure.

Three techniques of assessing bioavailable polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Saginaw River, MI, were compared: sediments, caged fish, and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). SPMDs and caged fish were placed in the river for 28 days at five sites where sediments were also sampled. The samples were analyzed for PCB congeners to determine concentrations and patterns. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 33 to 280 ng/g (dry weight) in sediments, 46 to 290 ng/g (wet weight) in caged fish, and 77 to 790 ng/g in SPMDs. Previously reported rates of PCB accumulation by SPMDs were used to estimate aqueous concentrations from the PCB concentrations detected in the SPMDs. Sediment-water partition coefficients were used to estimate aqueous PCB concentra tions from sediment. Steady-state bioconcentration factors and depuration rate constants were used to estimate dissolved PCB concentrations from caged channel catfish. Relative PCB patterns from the SPMDs, caged fish, and sediment were compared using principal components analysis. SPMD and sediment samples provide complementary information. Sediments reflect long-term accumula tion and weathering, while SPMDs integrate water concentrations only during the sampling period. Because of higher water solubilities of lower-chlorinated PCBs these predominate in the SPMDs as compared to in the fish and sediments. Contaminant profile differences between caged fish and SPMDs are likely due to metabolism and depuration of certain PCB congeners by fish.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to compare the sensitivity of Ceriodaphnia dubia/affinis with that of Daphnia magna to chlorobenzene, phenol, diethanolamine and ethylene glycol at 20 and 24°C. Static acute toxicity tests (48-h) were carried out at these temperatures in environmental chambers devoted only to toxicity studies. The majority of toxicity tests were carried out non-concurrently, in triplicate, and in each triplicate series the concentrations were randomly assigned within the appropriate ranges. Response differences of the two organisms at the two test temperatures to the four benchmark chemicals are of the same order of magnitude in each case. D. magna exhibited no statistically significant difference in its response to phenol, diethanolamine and ethylene glycol at the two test temperatures. However, D. magna is less sensitive to chlorobenzene at 24°C than at 20°C. C. dubia/affinis is more sensitive to phenol, diethanolamine and ethylene glycol at 24°C than at 20°C. Like D. magna, C. dubia/affinis is less sensitive to chlorobenzene at 24°C than at 20°C, but the difference for the latter is not statistically significant. A comparison of the two organisms shows that C. dubia/affinis is more sensitive to the four benchmark chemicals at 24°C than at 20°C. At 20°C, C. dubia/affinis is more sensitive to chlorobenzene and ethylene glycol than is D. magna, but the response to phenol and diethanolamine is the same for both organisms.

Increasing the resilience of agricultural landscapes requires fundamental changes to the dominant commodity production model, including incorporating practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, and extended rotations that reduce soil disturbance while increasing biological diversity. Increasing farmer adoption of these conservation systems offers the potential to transform agriculture to a more vibrant, resilient system that protects soil, air, and water quality. Adoption of these resilience practices is not without significant challenges. This paper presents findings from a participatory effort to better understand these challenges and to develop solutions to help producers overcome them. Through repeated, facilitated discussions with farmers and agricultural and conservation professionals across the U.S. state of Michigan, we confronted the policy, economic, and structural barriers that are inhibiting broader adoption of conservation systems, as well as identified policies, programs, and markets that can support their adoption. What emerged was a complex picture and dynamic set of challenges at multiple spatial scales and across multiple domains. The primary themes emerging from these discussions were barriers and opportunities, including markets, social networks, human capital, and conservation programs. Exacerbating the technical, agronomic, and economic challenges farmers face at the farm level, there are a host of community constraints, market access and availability problems, climatic and environmental changes, and policies (governmental and corporate) that cross-pressure farmers when it comes to making conservation decisions. Understanding these constraints is critical to developing programs, policies, and state and national investments that can drive adoption of conservation agriculture.