Project governance: case studies on financial incentives

Appropriate financial incentives within construction project coalitions can contribute to effective project governance. However, the dearth of primary research material is partly attributed to the lack of a suitable methodology with which to study projects. Social network analysis (SNA) is proposed as an analytical tool to explore coalition governance. Primary data are presented for three European case studies employing quite different approaches to the use of financial incentives in project governance. The case studies investigate pain share/gain share arrangements implemented under a prime contracting procurement approach; an unusual use of activity-related penalties in the French system of procurement; and the use of guaranteed maximum price supplements within a UK standard form of (without contractor's design) building contract. The use of SNA enables the observation of a number of transaction sets and the formulation of a framework for the quantification of construction project governance. The first case study demonstrates the decentralization of client-orientated financial management, from consultant quantity surveyor to a number of multidisciplinary cluster leaders. The second case study illustrates the importance of incentive contiguity in effective project governance. The third case study uses SNA to demonstrate the way in which financial governance could be transformed through the transference of client-orientated financial management from the client and their professional adviser to the main contractor.

Les incitations financières appropriées, dans le cadre d'un fonds commun relatif à un projet de construction, peuvent contribuer à une gestion efficace du projet. Or, la pénurie de matériel de recherche primaire est attribuée, en partie, à l'absence d'une méthodologie appropriée permettant d'étudier de tels projets. Dans cet article, l'auteur propose l'analyse du réseau social (SNA) comme outil analytique permettant d'explorer la gouvernance collective. L'article présente des données primaires concernant trois études de cas européennes employant des méthodologies tout à fait différentes d'utilisation des incitations financières dans la gouvernance du projet. Ces études de cas portent sur les mécanismes de partage des difficultés/partage des gains mis en ?uvre au titre des approvisionnements par un maître d'?uvre, sur l'usage inhabituel de pénalités liées à l'activité dans le système français des approvisionnements et sur l'usage de suppléments de prix garantis et maximaux dans une forme standard du SNA, au Royaume-Uni, permettant l'observation d'un certain nombre d'ensembles de transactions et la formulation d'un cadre pour la quantification de la gouvernance du projet de construction. La première étude de cas démontre la décentralisation de la gestion financière orientée ‘client’, du consultant métreur-vérificateur vers un certain nombre de responsables de groupes pluridisciplinaires. La deuxième étude de cas illustre l'importance de la contiguïté incitative dans une gouvernance de projet efficace. La troisième étude de cas utilise la SNA pour démontrer comment pourrait être transformée la gouvernance financière en passant d'une gestion financière orientée ‘client’, du client et de son conseiller professionnel, vers le maître d'?uvre.

Mots-clés: modèles de développement, collaboration, gouvernance, incitations, contrats de maître d'oeuvre, approvisionnement, dynamique du projet, organisation du projet, analyse du réseau social, intégration des équipes.     

Detecting 6 MV X-rays using an organic photovoltaic device

An organic photovoltaic (OPV) device has been used in conjunction with a flexible inorganic phosphor to produce a radiation tolerant, efficient and linear detector for 6 MV X-rays. The OPVs were based on a blend of poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We show that the devices have a sensitivity an order of magnitude higher than a commercial silicon detector used as a reference. Exposure to 360 Grays of radiation resulted in a small (2%) degradation in performance demonstrating that these detectors have the potential to be used as flexible, real-time, in vivo dosimeters for oncology treatments.     

OLES: an instrument for refining the design of e-learning environments

Abstract Designing and implementing effective e-learning is a complex process, which involves many factors. Lecturers need to constantly consider, evaluate and adjust these factors to provide effective e-learning environments for students. In this paper, we report on the design and development of the Online Learning Environment Survey (OLES), an instrument which can be used to gather and represent data on students' 'actual' (experienced) and 'preferred' (ideal) learning environments. We describe the use of this instrument in blended learning environments with university classes, illustrating how OLES can be used by educators striving for good practice in the design of effective online learning environments.     

Chromatic contrast sensitivity: the role of absolute threshold and gain constant in differences between the fovea and the periphery

A model of foveal achromatic and chromatic sensitivity [Vision Res. 36, 1597 (1996)] was extended to the peripheral visual field. Threshold-versus-illuminance functions were analyzed to determine effects of eccentricity on absolute thresholds and gain constants of chromatic and luminance mechanisms. The resulting peripheral model successfully predicted peripheral contrast sensitivity as a function of wavelength, for both white and 500-nm backgrounds. We conclude that the short-wavelength-sensitive cone opponent mechanism may mediate thresholds in Sloan's notch in the normal periphery and that interpretation of reduced chromatic sensitivity in the periphery requires an explicit model of how eccentricity affects both the gain constant and the absolute threshold.     

Capitating mental health services

Many employers are contracting mental or behavioral health services separately from other types of health care. Capitation rates are paid for a defined set of benefits. Mental health services are capitated in two ways; both approaches are discussed.     

Effects of a peer-led senior health education program

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine; 5-HT) elicits external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs via 5-HT1B/1D receptors and a mechanism unrelated to the 5-HT1, 5-HT2, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 types. In order to further explore the nature of this novel mechanism, the canine external carotid effects of 2-(2-aminoethyl)-quinoline (D-1997), a novel 5-HT1 receptor agonist, were analyzed and compared with those of 5-HT and sumatriptan. Intracarotid (i.c.) infusions of 5-HT, D-1997 and sumatriptan to vagosympathectomized dogs dose-dependently decreased external carotid conductance, the rank order of agonist potency being 5-HT > sumatriptan > D-1997. The effects to D-1997 were resistant to intravenous (i.v.) pretreatment with 5-HT2 and 5-HT3/5-HT4 receptor antagonists. Remarkably, the effects induced by lower (10-100 microg/min), but not higher (300-1000 microg/min), doses of D-1997 were blocked by high doses of methiothepin (1 and 3 mg/kg, i.v.), as previously shown with 5-HT. In addition, GR-127935 (1-10 microg/kg, i.v.), partially and dose-dependently antagonized D-1997-induced responses. However, the effects of D-1997 remained unaltered after blockade of alpha- and beta-adrenoceptors, muscarinic, nicotinic, histamine and dopamine receptors, or inhibition of 5-HT-uptake or cyclo-oxygenase, depletion of biogenic amines or blockade of Ca2+ channels. These results may support our previous contention that lower doses of 5-HT elicit external carotid vasoconstriction in vagosympathectomized dogs by activation of 5-HT1B/1D receptors, whilst higher doses of 5-HT stimulate a novel vasoconstrictor mechanism.     

Equilibrium and kinetic parameters of the sequence-specific interaction of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase with nontemplate strand oligodeoxyribonucleotides

The specific recognition by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase of single-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides (oligos) with the sequence of the -10 promoter region on the nontemplate strand has been studied. Binding was monitored by observing the increase in fluorescence of 2-aminopurine residues incorporated in the oligos. The effects of salt on the rates of formation and dissociation of RNA polymerase.oligo complexes are relatively small, from which we conclude that electrostatic interactions contribute minimally to the favorable binding free energy. From the convex temperature dependence of ln Ka (Ka is the equilibrium association constant), we infer that a large apparent negative heat capacity, of 1-2 kcal M-1 K-1, accompanies complex formation, which is interpreted as due to a conformational change in RNA polymerase. Contrary to expectation, the forward rate constant for binding of oligos is more than 10-fold smaller than that for open complex formation at strong promoters. This suggests that in comparison to an oligo, promoter DNA may be better able to accelerate this required conformational change in the RNA polymerase. Oligo binding was shown to compete with the interaction between RNA polymerase and promoters, indicating that the two bind to overlapping sites on the RNA polymerase     

Automated three-dimensional US frame positioning computed from elevational speckle decorrelation

For ultrasonographic B-scan images collected by means of a handheld transducer moving in the elevational direction, frame spacings are computed with a speckle-decorrelation algorithm, without additional positioning hardware. Fully developed speckle volumes are automatically segmented and spacing computed from the decorrelation curves. Position accuracy is within 10% for phantoms and 15% for breast studies. The algorithm provides image-based registration, which allows accurate three-dimensional volume rendering.     

Predicting the development of late-life late-onset drinking problems: a 7-year prospective study

There has been little empirical study of risk factors for the development of late-life late-onset drinking problems. In the current prospective study, we compare two groups of older adults who, at a baseline assessment, were nonproblem drinkers: individuals who developed drinking problems over the course of the next 7 years (n = 77) and those who did not (n = 197). Late-onset problem drinkers reported mild to moderate drinking problems and spontaneous remission rates were high. Compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers at baseline were more likely to report incipient problems, heavier alcohol consumption, greater friend approval of drinking, more reliance on avoidance coping strategies, were more likely to smoke, and were less likely to have acute medical conditions that could potentially be complicated by alcohol consumption. Contrary to expectation, life stressors did not predict drinking problem onset. However, compared with stable nonproblem drinkers, late-onset problem drinkers were more likely to have a history of responding to stressors and negative affect with increased alcohol consumption.