Evaluating Plan Implementation: A Conformance-Based Methodology

The planning profession lacks a robust methodology to evaluate the implementation of plans. This article proposes a conformance-based plan implementation evaluation (PIE) that relies on the analysis of plans and permits to provide a rigorous, quantitative, and systematic way of assessing the degree to which land use plans are implemented. We studied the implementation of stormwater and urban amenity management in six New Zealand plans by reviewing their land development permits. We found that the implementation of land use plans was generally low and varied greatly among plans and issues. Although it was tested in the context of local plans in New Zealand, the methodology can be used by city and county planning agencies in the U.S. and elsewhere.     

Nicotine replacement: Effects on postcessation weight gain.

Examined nicotine replacement effects on postcessation weight gain in smoking cessation clinic volunteers using objective indices of cigarette smoking, gum use, and body weight. After they achieved abstinence, subjects were randomly assigned to either active nicotine or placebo gum conditions for 10 weeks, during which smoking status was carefully monitored. Analyses revealed strong evidence for a gum effect on weight gain, with active gum users gaining a mean total of 3.8 lbs compared with 7.8 lbs for placebo gum users at the end of the 10-week trial. Evidence for a dose–response relation was found, suggesting that more gum use (≥6.5 pieces/day) resulted in greater weight suppression. Placebo gum subjects reported greater postcessation increases in eating and hunger compared with active gum subjects. The implications of the weight suppression effect of nicotine gum for smoking cessation treatments are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A cross-national comparison of the adoption of business process reengineering: fashion-setting networks?

Business Process Reengineering (BPR) was developed as a new idea which, it was suggested, could revolutionise the corporation and give it a major competitive advantage by simplifying key business processes and utilising information technology to secure cross-functional communication and focus on customer requirements. Rather than continue the debate about whether BPR is ‘good' or ‘bad', ‘old' or ‘new' (e.g. Earl and Mumford), the focus here is on understanding how the concept ‘BPR', however defined, has been diffused across European firms. The results from a survey of firms in four countries support previous research on the diffusion process with the rate of adoption of BPR related to micro-organisational level variables—characteristics of the firm and the boundary spanning activities of individual members. In addition there were differences across industry sectors and across countries in the extent of adoption of BPR. It is argued that attention to these meso-industry level and macro-national level factors, as well as the micro-organisational level dynamics, will improve our understanding of the relationship between networking and innovation processes. In particular, the paper focuses on how networking activity can be restrictive and lead to the creation of fashions which limit the extent of organisational learning during BPR adoption.     

An updated weight of evidence approach to the aquatic hazard assessment of Bisphenol A and the derivation a new predicted no effect concentration (Pnec) using a non-parametric methodology

An aquatic hazard assessment establishes a derived predicted no effect concentration (PNEC) below which it is assumed that aquatic organisms will not suffer adverse effects from exposure to a chemical. An aquatic hazard assessment of the endocrine disruptor Bisphenol A [BPA; 2, 2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] was conducted using a weight of evidence approach, using the ecotoxicological endpoints of survival, growth and development and reproduction. New evidence has emerged that suggests that the aquatic system may not be sufficiently protected from adverse effects of BPA exposure at the current PNEC value of 100 μg/L. It is with this background that; 1) An aquatic hazard assessment for BPA using a weight of evidence approach, was conducted, 2) A PNEC value was derived using a non parametric hazardous concentration for 5% of the specie (HC₅) approach and, 3) The derived BPA hazard assessment values were compared to aquatic environmental concentrations for BPA to determine, sufficient protectiveness from BPA exposure for aquatic species. A total of 61 studies yielded 94 no observed effect concentration (NOEC) and a toxicity dataset, which suggests that the aquatic effects of mortality, growth and development and reproduction are most likely to occur between the concentrations of 0.0483 μg/L and 2280 μg/L. This finding is within the range for aquatic adverse estrogenic effects reported in the literature. A PNEC of 0.06 μg/L was calculated. The 95% confidence interval was found to be (0.02, 3.40) μg/L. Thus, using the weight of evidence approach based on repeated measurements of these endpoints, the results indicate that currently observed BPA concentrations in surface waters exceed this newly derived PNEC value of 0.06 μg/L. This indicates that some aquatic receptors may be at risk for adverse effects on survival, growth and development and reproduction from BPA exposure at environmentally relevant concentrations.     

Surface modifications of ZnO nanoparticles and their cytotoxicity

ZnO is a well-known UV absorber. At small particle sizes its absorption efficiency is substantially increased and this property, combined with transparency to visible light, has attracted growing interest in its applications in personal care products such as sunscreens. However, some recent studies suggest that ZnO nanoparticles could induce considerable toxicity to certain cells and microorganisms. Aiming to reduce cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles without impairing their unique properties, this paper examines the influence of surface modifications to ZnO nanoparticles using coatings such as silica (SiO2) and Poly methyl Acrylic Acid (PMAA). It was found that both PMAA and SiO2 coatings were physically attached to the ZnO surface and their presence did not weaken UV absorption of the original nanoparticles. Uncoated ZnO and SiO2-coated ZnO exhibited similar cytotoxicity to human lymphoblastoid cells, while PMAA-coated ZnO nanoparticles had little adverse effect except at high concentrations. The type of coating was also shown to affect the generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The correlation between cell viability and ROS level led to conclusions that enhanced oxidative stress could be one of the reasons for cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles.     

Voucher reinforcement for heroin and cocaine abstinence in a outpatient drug-free program.

This study examined an abstinence-contingent voucher incentive program in opiate-dependent clients enrolled in outpatient drug-free (nonmethadone) treatment. Study participants were referred from local detoxification programs and randomly assigned to voucher (n=29) or no-voucher (n=23) conditions. Both groups received intensive cognitive-behavioral counseling; those in the voucher condition could earn up to $1,087.50 over 3 months for submitting urines negative for both opiates and cocaine. Voucher versus no-voucher groups did not differ significantly on mean days retained in treatment (35.9 vs. 39.3 days), mean number of opiate- and cocaine-negative urines submitted (8.3 vs. 6.2), longest duration of continuous abstinence (16.8 vs. 12.1 days), or percentage of participants abstinent for 4 weeks (20.7% voucher vs. 9% no voucher). Possible reasons for negative findings are discussed. Findings suggest that voucher programs must be better tailored to the clinical population and behavioral targets being addressed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Clinical supervision research from 1981 to 1993: A methodological critique.

The empirical studies in clinical supervision published from 1981 through 1993 were investigated to assess scientific rigor and to test whether the quality of methodology had improved since the review by R. K. Russell, A. M. Crimmings, and R. W. Lent (1984). The 144 studies were evaluated according to 49 threats to validity (T. D. Cook & D. T. Campbell, 1979; R. K. Russell et al., 1984; B. E. Wampold, B. Davis, & R. H. Good III; see record 1990-28928-001) and 8 statistical variables (e.g., effect size, statistical power, and Type I and Type II error rates). The data revealed a shift to realistic field studies, unchecked Type I and Type II error rates, medium effect sizes, and inattention to hypothesis validity. Recommendations for designing and conducting a feasible and well-designed supervision study are offered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Quality assurance in psychological services.

The Canadian Council on Hospital Accreditation (1985) has insisted that a hospital-wide quality assurance program is essential for accreditation, and hospital departments are in various stages of quality assurance program development. The present authors review the rationale and issues (e.g., professional autonomy, malpractice, health care costs, consumerism) that forced the development of quality assurance and some generally accepted definitions of key concepts. The current status of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario Psychology Department's program of quality assurance is described, with special reference to structure, process, and outcome criteria. Implications that quality assurance programs have for the professional practice of psychology and functioning within the public hospital setting are discussed. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sustaining and advancing IT careers: Women’s experiences in a UK-based IT company

This article contributes to a growing literature on women in IT occupations. Against a national and international context of women’s longstanding and continued under-representation in senior professional roles in IT, our study at organizational level tells the story of women’s career experiences in a specific UK-based IT company in relation to its culture, processes and practices. Utilising a concept from the gender literature – Acker’s (2006) ‘inequality regimes’ – the study bridges the gap between the gender and IS literature and feminist theorising in order to shed light on the lack of gender diversity in IT. The article specifically shows how components of organizational inequality regimes, namely, ‘organizing processes’, ‘legitimacy’ and ‘visibility’ of inequalities combine and interact to produce and maintain gender inequality in the IT workplace. The implications of this in the sector more generally are discussed.     

Lipid and protein stability and sensory evaluation of ostrich (Struthio camelus) droëwors with the addition of rooibos tea extract (Aspalathus linearis) as a natural antioxidant

The effect of rooibos tea extract (RBTE 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 1.00%) as a natural antioxidant on the lipid and protein stability of ostrich droëwors (traditional South African dried sausage) after a 15 day drying period was investigated. The lipid stability of the droëwors increased with 0.25% RBTE having lower TBARS. The protein stability of the droëwors did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) between treatments. The heme–iron content did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) between the treatments and increased from day 0 to day 15. Drying resulted in a decrease in the total moisture content by 45% and a corresponding increase in all other components. There were no differences between the moisture, fat and ash contents between treatments within a specific day. The droëwors had high concentrations of oleic acid, palmitic acid and linoleic acid. The addition of RBTE also improved the sensory attributes and can thus be added and marketed as a natural flavourant from ‘out of Africa’ for a traditional South African meat product.