Public participation and New Urbanism: a conflicting agenda?

The challenges to public participation in planning are numerous. Inclusive and equitable processes are recognised as an ideal in much planning theory and practice, yet this ideal is increasingly difficult to realise in today’s societies that comprise diverse and multiple publics. Within the wider sustainability debate, ‘New Urbanism’ has emerged as a pragmatic alternative to convention allow-density development. Concomitant with a range of prescribed physical outcomes, the New Urbanism movement advocates a process of ‘citizen-based participatory planning and design’. Charrettes, with urban design workshops, are the favoured tools for achieving this goal. However, it is argued that the adherence to a single type of participatory tool can be inconsistent with accepted ideals of participation processes and has several implications. Of particular concern is the role of the charrette planner or facilitator, a figure who has the potential to manipulate the public because of his/her inevitable allegiance to the New Urban agenda. In addition, the examination of a charrette process in a small New Zealand town raises several broader questions about the ability of the approach to address issues of inclusiveness and the recognition of difference, two fundamental elements of good participatory processes

The Effect of Peer Collaboration on Children\u27s Problem Solving Ability

Peer collaboration is a commonly used learning strategy, perceived by educators as a valuable educational activity. Studies do indicate a performance output benefit for children working collaboratively compared to children working individually. However, the longer term cognitive benefits of collaboration appear to be limited by a number of factors. It is suggested that cognitive change following peer collaboration is limited to children working with a more cognitively competent peer (or one with a different perspective), active participation and reasoned communication. This paper considers elements of Piaget\u27s and Vygotsky\u27s cognitive development theories in an attempt to explain some of the processes underlying peer collaboration, that may lead to cognitive change. Studies grounded in a Piagetian framework support the view that it is the cognitive conflict arising from peer interaction that leads to cognitive change. However, researchers in the Vygotskian tradition argue that cognitive change is most likely to occur when a child collaborates with a more competent partner. It is contended that the two theories are not as mutually exclusive as they are often portrayed. It appears that an important component in both theories is that cognitive change results when the interaction exposes a participant to a different knowledge source, whether it be due to a conflicting perspective (as argued by Piagetians), or a higher level of expertise (as argued by Vygotskians)

School\u27s out: Adolescent \u27leisure time\u27 activities, influences and consequences

The current study investigated the out-of-school activities in which adolescents participate categorised in terms of structure, type (creative, physical, passive) and level of interaction (individual, group), the developmental, psychological and social consequences of such involvement, and the factors influencing participation. Questionnaires completed by 1280, 12 to 17 year old Western Australian metropolitan, high-school students provided information on adolescents\u27 out-of-school time use, their perceptions of parental values and behaviours, friends\u27 behaviours and relationships and their own behaviours and beliefs. A model, based on the research literature, indicated that parent support and intrinsic motivation were the two factors contributing most to adolescent participation in structured `leisure\u27 activities. There was some support for the hypothesis that involvement in structured `leisure\u27 activities would be associated with higher levels of self-worth and life satisfaction, less boredom and less frequent engagement in risk behaviours. However, it was found that parent strictness and connectedness (as perceived by the adolescents) were the largest contributors to these outcomes. The findings provided support for the `positive psychology movement\u27 and suggest that the majority of this group of adolescents are living effectively in the demanding and changing environment of today\u27s society

Seasonal and sex-specific differences in feeding site attendance by red foxes Vulpes vulpes

Food provided by householders represents a key resource for urban red foxes Vulpes vulpes. Using long-term video footage, we examined how patterns of feeding site attendance varied with season, sex and likely residence status. For foxes attending frequently (>15%) we found feeding site attendance highest for females in spring, probably because of feeding dependent young, and lowest for both sexes in autumn because of changes in seasonal food abundance or in time spent in other activities. For infrequent attenders (<15%), females attended most often in autumn and winter, coinciding with the dispersal period. Male attendance was not higher during the breeding season. Our combined results show how feeding site attendance changes throughout the year relative to potential intrinsic and extrinsic factors

Cultural and structural forces: A potentially symbiotic or dysfunctional relationship in the journey towards supply chain collaboration

Despite its promises to generate superior supply chain performance, supply chain collaboration remains an elusive goal for many organizations. While much research has explored various facets of successful management of supply chain relationships, the complexity of factors that can impact the quality of collaboration make implementation difficult to achieve. This paper uses a series of case studies of twelve exemplary European firms from a supply chain standpoint to explore potential frameworks that can better categorize those factors that lead to exemplary supply chain collaboration. Both barriers and initiatives to overcome those barriers are identified and categorized as either structural or cultural. The study reveals an interesting relationship between these categories and provides a series of propositions that can inform future confirmatory studies in supply chain collaboration

Role of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in synaptic plasticity and neurotransmission in mammalian spinal cord.

Chronic unilateral hemisection (HX) of the adult rat spinal cord diminishes conduction through intact fibers in the ventrolateral funiculus (VLF) contralateral to HX. Intraspinal injections of Chondroitinase-ABC, known to digest chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the vicinity of injury, prevented this decline of axonal conduction. This was associated with improved locomotor function. We further injected three purified CSPGs into the lateral column of the uninjured cord at T10: NG2 and neurocan, which increase in the vicinity of a spinal injury, and aggrecan, which decreases. Intraspinal injection of NG2 acutely depressed axonal conduction through the injection region in a dose dependent manner. Similar injections of saline, aggrecan, or neurocan had no significant effect. These results identify a novel acute action of CSPGs on axonal conduction in spinal cord, and suggest that antagonism of proteoglycans reverses or prevents the decline of axonal conduction, in addition to stimulating axonal growth

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using indigenous Xanthorrhoea glauca leaf extract and their antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermis

Background: This study for the first time presents an environmentally friendly, room temperature procedure for synthesizing silver (Ag) nanoparticles via the leaf extract taken from Xanthorrhoea glauca. Methods: The simple and straightforward green chemistry based technique uses the leaf extract that acts as both reducing agent and capping agent to produce Ag nanoparticles which are subsequently quantified using advanced characterisation techniques. In addition, antibacterial studies were conducted using the Kirby-Bauer sensitivity method. Results: Advanced characterisation revealed the synthesised particles had a variety of shapes including cubes, truncated triangular and hexagonal plates, and ranged in size from 50 nm up to 200 nm. The Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus epidermis showed the maximum zone of inhibition at 11 mm. Conclusions: The study has shown that the leaf extract was able to synthesis Ag nanoparticles with antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermis

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles via indigenous Anigozanthos manglesii, (red and green kangaroo paw) leaf extract and its potential antibacterial activity

Background: Metallic silver nanoparticles with antibacterial properties were biosynthesised for the first time using an indigenous Australian plant Anigozanthos manglesii. Methods: A practical, straight-forward and eco-friendly technique used the Anigozanthos manglesii leaf extract, which acted as both reducing and capping agents to create stable silver nanoparticles. The antibacterial activities of the nanoparticles were investigated using the Kirby-Bauer sensitivity method. Results: Characterisation revealed the nanoparticles ranged in size from 50 nm up to 150 nm, and their morphologies included cubes, triangular plates and hexagonal plates. Antibacterial studies revealed Deinococcus was sensitive and susceptible to the biosynthesised nanoparticles. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus Epidermis strains were also found to be less susceptible to the silver nanoparticles. Conclusions: The present study has shown that silver nanoparticles biosynthesised using Anigozanthos manglesii leaf extracts have antibacterial activity against Deinococcus, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus Epidermis bacterial strain

Why Supply Chain Collaboration Fails: The Socio-Structural View Of Resistance To Collaboration Strategies

Purpose The relational view posits that supply chain integration can be a source of competitive advantage. Few firms, however, successfully co-create value to attain supernormal relational rents. We therefore elaborate theory regarding the reasons why collaboration strategies fail. Design/methodology/approach This study employs a quasi-longitudinal, multi-case interview methodology to explore the reasons why collaboration strategies fail to deliver intended results. We interviewed managers at 49 companies in Period 1 and managers at 57 companies in Period 2. Fifteen companies participated in both rounds of interviews. Findings This paper builds and describes a taxonomy of relational resistors. We then explore how sociological and structural resistors reinforce each other to undermine collaborative behavior. Specifically, the interplay among resistors 1) obscures the true sources of resistance, 2) exacerbates a sense of vulnerability to non-collaborative behavior that reduces the willingness to invest in relational architecture, and 3) inhibits the development of essential relational skills and organizational routines. Originality/value This research identifies and describes the behaviors and processes that impede successful supply chain alliances. By delving into the interplay among relational resistors, the research explains the detail and nuance of inter-firm rivalry and supply chain complexity. Ultimately, it is the re-enforcing nature of various resistors that make it so difficult for firms have to realize relational rents

Connection and coherence between and among European instruments in the private international law of obligations

This article considers points of connection and coherence between and among the Rome I Regulation, the Rome II Regulation, and Regulation 1215, and relevant predecessor instruments. The degree of consistency in aim, design and detail of conflict of laws rules is examined, vertically (between/among consecutive instruments) and horizontally (across cognate instruments). Symbiosis between instruments is explored, as is the interrelationship between choice of court and choice of law. Disadvantaged parties, and the cohesiveness of their treatment under the Regulations, receive particular attention