Reflections on Foucauldian Discource Analysis in Planning and Environmental Research

YesDiscourse analysis is becoming an increasingly common approach in planning and environmental policy research. This paper asserts that the generic treatment of discourse analysis obscures distinct approaches where `discourses¿ can combine different elements of text, systems of thought, and action. Textually-oriented approaches have been more prevalent over the 1990s but this paper explores a different approach, grounded in the theory of Michel Foucault, which broadens discourse to embrace social action. Comparing and contrasting two studies which have utilised this approach, the paper suggests that there is considerable room for variation concerning the subjects of study, the institutional scale of analyses, the methods of investigation, and process of analysis. Nevertheless, this paper identifies certain core elements of a Foucauldian discourse analytic approach. The paper concludes that this emerging approach to discourse analysis promises considerable insights if applied more widely in planning and environmental research

Mackey-Glass type delay differential equations near the boundary of absolute stability

For equations $x'(t) = -x(t) + \zeta f(x(t-h)), x \in \R, f'(0)= -1, \zeta > 0,$ with $C^3$-nonlinearity $f$ which has negative Schwarzian derivative and satisfies $xf(x) < 0$ for $x\not=0$, we prove convergence of all solutions to zero when both $\zeta -1 >0$ and $h(\zeta-1)^{1/8}$ are less than some constant (independent on $h,\zeta$). This result gives additional insight to the conjecture about the equivalence between local and global asymptotical stabilities in the Mackey-Glass type delay differential equations.Comment: 16 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in the Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Application

Yorke and Wright 3/2-stability theorems from a unified point of view

We consider a family of scalar delay differential equations $x'(t)=f(t,x_t)$, with a nonlinearity $f$ satisfying a negative feedback condition combined with a boundedness condition. We present a global stability criterion for this family, which in particular unifies the celebrated 3/2-conditions given for the Yorke and the Wright type equations. We illustrate our results with some applications.Comment: 10 pages, accepted for publication in the Expanded Volume of DCDS, devoted to the fourth international conference on Dynamical Systems and Differential Equations, held at UNC at Wilmington, May 2002. Minor changes from the previous versio

Assessment Practices in Residential Treatment Facilities for Juvenile Offenders

Given the high prevalence of mental disorders among juvenile offenders, as well as the link between untreated disorders and delinquent behavior, there is a critical need for standardized, cost-effective, and clinically effective procedures to identify youth with mental health problems. Surveys were sent to staff in juvenile residential facilities throughout Pennsylvania to examine statewide assessment practices, including the background and training of staff, the standard intake procedures used in these facilities, and the role of assessment in treatment planning. Although results provide evidence of some common statewide assess-ment practices, there was significant variability in the use of specific procedures. Suggestions are offered for enhancing mental health screening and assessment in juvenile justice facilities

Back to the future? A theoretically inspired musing on the concept of Product Stewardship and its implications for Corporate and Social Responsibility

yesThe concept of corporate and social responsibility (CSR) has gained increasing momentum and importance in business operations today and companies have globally responded to this philosophy. To what end though? Product Stewardship (PS) and the corporate, social and environmental responsibilities associated within this term are a key part of a business’s CSR agenda. In the extant literature, it is a challenge to clearly identify the boundaries of responsibility for PS - who sets these boundaries for governance and what are the actions taken under the guise of PS. This paper aims to start the process of demystification in responding to the title of this work, stimulate further musings and outline a future research agenda

Where are you? A preliminary examination of the track and trace mechanisms in place to facilitate effective closed-loop medical equipment retrieval in the National Health Service (NHS) (UK)

yesThe National Health Service (UK) is wholly accountable and heavily scrutinised for its strategy, activity, performance and spending (Appleby, 2016; NHS Confederation, 2016; Parliament UK, 2010), and much research has been undertaken as to its effectiveness at managing its operations and its competency in doing so (Gov.Uk, 2016; National Audit Office, 1999)). The impact of not performing adequately combined with threats such as funding cuts (King’s Fund, 2016), government intervention and private sector competition; has led to uncertainty and disillusion with the sustainability of the service (Hunter, 2016). Based on current economic concerns, this paper chooses to focus on the area of Medical Equipment Loans Services where products are released to patients to aid therapeutic rehabilitation and physical mobility. The aim of this study is to examine the process of product retrieval in a multi-case study analysis and consider how value-added technologies can be used to improve retrieval success rates

Breaking ‘Smart’ New Ground: A preliminary assessment of the uptake and use of Smart Technologies in NHS Hospital Pharmacies (UK).

yesMedicines management is only one part of NHS (UK) procurement and management, but essentially a very expensive part. According to the Commercial Medicines Unit (Department of Health, 2013), NHS hospitals in England currently spend around £3.6 billion annually on pharmaceuticals, having risen from £2.2. billion in 2005. The NHS continuously strives to promote excellence in what it does and justify how it does it. In undertaking this preliminary analysis 45 pharmacy staff members contributed to an online survey. The results presented a broad mix of views on how smart technology (e.g. iPhone, iPad) could be used and if it should be used at all in this setting. The outcome of this small scale study demonstrates the lack of knowledge as to if and how such technologies could be used in hospital pharmacy and therefore present grounds for testing out the broader application of smart technology via academic and practitioner consultations

Ecology of Floristic Quality Assessment: testing for correlations between coefficients of conservatism, species traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness

Many plant species are limited to habitats relatively unaffected by anthropogenic disturbance, so protecting these undisturbed habitats is essential for plant conservation. Coefficients of conservatism (C values) were developed as indicators of a species’ sensitivity to anthropogenic disturbance, and these values are used in Floristic Quality Assessment as a means of assessing natural areas and ecological restoration. However, assigning of these values is subjective and improved quantitative validation of C values is needed. We tested whether there are consistent differences in life histories between species with high and low C values. To do this, we grew 54 species of tallgrass prairie plants in a greenhouse and measured traits that are associated with trade-offs on the fast-slow continuum of life-history strategies. We also grew plants with and without mycorrhizal fungi as a test of these species’ reliance on this mutualism. We compared these traits and mycorrhizal responsiveness to C values. We found that six of the nine traits we measured were correlated with C values, and together, traits predicted up to 50 % of the variation in C values. Traits including fast growth rates and greater investment in reproduction were associated with lower C values, and slow growth rates, long-lived leaves and high root:shoot ratios were associated with higher C values. Additionally, plants with high C values and a slow life history were more responsive to mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi. Overall, our results connect C values with life-history trade-offs, indicating that high C value species tend to share a suite of traits associated with a slow life history