Involving constituents in agency priority setting: a case study

Many government agencies have "constituents" who believe the agencies should hear and consider their needs and desires in establishing program priorities. This article describes how one involves interested constituents (consumers, industry, medical professionals, and state organizations) in the agency's annual priority-setting process. This participation has produced a number of beneficial results-some expected and some unexpected.     

从语言学角度看《随园食单》菜品名称

江苏“随园菜”与北京“谭家菜”、山东“孔府菜”并称为中国最著名的三大官府菜,其中的“随园菜”得名于江苏历史名人,清代著名散文家、诗人袁枚的饮食文化著作《随园食单》。采用语言学的研究方法,分析《随园食单》中菜品名称的音节数目、组成结构、命名特点等,以挖掘江苏饮食文化的独特魅力。     

Sensitivity,uncertainty, and decision analyses in the prioritization of research

The evaluation of hazards from complex, large scale, technologically advanced systems often requires the construction of computer implemented mathematical models. These models are used to evaluate the safety of the systems and to evaluate the consequences of modifications to the systems. These evaluations, however, are normally surrounded by significant uncertainties related to the uncertainty inherent in natural phenomena such as the weather and those related to uncertainties in the parameters and models used in the evaluation.

Another use of these models is to evaluate strategies for improving information used in the modeling process itself. While sensitivity analysis is useful in defining variables in the model that are important, uncertainty analysis provides a tool for assessing the importance of uncertainty about these variables. A third complementary technique, is decision analysis. It provides a methodology for explicitly evaluating and ranking potential improvements to the model. Its use in the development of information gathering strategies for a nuclear waste repository are discussed in this paper.     

箪食瓢饮:河北涉县旱作梯田系统的饮食体系

作为中国重要农业文化遗产,河北涉县旱作梯田系统是当地居民积累生活经验、寻找生存之道,最终实现农业永续发展的智慧结晶。 本文以其核心区域王金庄村居民的日常饮食入手,意在描述梯田社会中食物从破土而出到送入口中的全过程,呈现当地在自然与文化共同作用下所形成的饮食结构和饮食习惯。 这种与自然相适应的文化模式以及由此而生的生态观念,形成了以藏粮于地、储粮于仓、节粮于口为主要内容的饮食体系,影响着当地人的行为选择,也发挥了重要的生态调节功能。     

Culture Change in Aged-Care Facilities: A Café's Contribution to Transforming the Physical and Social Environment

Objective: To discuss the potential of a café on the premises of an aged-care facility as a vehicle for culture change. Method: Secondary analysis of primary qualitative data that explored the value of a café in an aged-care facility, compared with culture-change principles established from a literature review. Results: Secondary analysis established congruence between culture-change principles and the themes established in the primary qualitative data. A café, in one aged-care facility, has facilitated the following dimensions of culture change for residents: individualized care, facilitation of meaningful relationships, opportunities for participation in life roles, and creation of a sense of belonging. Conclusion: Culture change can be achieved through environmental innovations, such as a café, where food and dining maximize social opportunities and create a homelike environment that facilitates continuation of residents' identity.     

How and why are Theory of Change and Realist Evaluation used in food security contexts? A scoping review

The complex ways in which food security actions lead to nutrition and other health outcomes make it important to clarify what programs work and how, with theory-driven evaluation emerging as a promising approach to evaluate complex programs. However, it is unclear how and why theory-driven evaluation is applied in food security contexts. Our objective is to examine the development and use of Theory of Change and Realist Evaluation to support food security programs globally. Using a systematic search and screening process, we included studies that described a food security program, used a Theory of Change or Realist Evaluation, and presented original research or evaluations. We found a total of 59 relevant Theory of Change studies and eight Realist Evaluation studies. Based on our analysis, Theories of Change arose in response to three main problems: 1) the need to evaluate under complexity; 2) challenges with evaluation; and, 3) information gaps surrounding a program. In contrast, Realist Evaluation was reported to be developed primarily to understand a program’s outcomes. Reflecting on the problem to be addressed in the evaluation would help improve understandings of the evaluation context, which would then inform the choice and design of an evaluation approach.     

论广州城市生活垃圾治理的战略取向

现代城市垃圾治理是一项复杂的系统工程。在城市垃圾中,生活垃圾所占比重大、与民众联系密切且处理阻力大,对城市生活垃圾治理的战略设计已成为城市管理者面临的最大难题之一。作为我国重要中心城市的广州,也正面临形势严峻的"垃圾围城"之困,自2012年开启新一轮城市生活垃圾综合治理以来,在有创新、有收获的同时也遇到了新的挑战。为进一步深化城市生活垃圾治理工作,广州应准确把脉顶层制度难"落地"、流程运行难系统、民众习惯难转变等现实症结,科学设计生活垃圾的多元共治路径,实现挑战与机遇的对接,为我国城市生活垃圾的治理树立标杆,助推开创城市垃圾治理的新局面。     

The myth of price convergence under economic integration: A proposed explanation for the difference in food prices across European countries

Conventional globalization theory states that regional economic integration will precede price standardization across participating countries due to the increased buying power of large retail groups and parallel imports. The resulting price corridor should merely reflect differences in logistic costs and short-term, local competitive actions. Yet, this study uses panel data from 25 European countries to examine how hefty food and beverage price differentials between regions remained constant over the last decade. Income, store productivity, and market concentration all contribute to the explanation for regional price differences. These findings suggest that, contrary to straight-line globalization theory, large European retailers’ decisions can influence price convergence and maintain important price dispersion between economically integrated countries. We provide recommendations to enhance market integration.     

发达国家对华输出电子废弃物的环境影响与对策

近年来,发达国家电子废弃物的流入给发展中国家的环境和民众健康带来了严重的危害。我国在阻止电子废弃物流入的相关法律规制与监管上存在漏洞,且经济发展战略不合理,发展水平相对落后。法律和经济方面的双重落差导致发达国家电子废弃物流入屡禁不止,迫切需要采取有效措施加以应对。分析国外电子废弃物涌入我国之现状与原因,并从法律制度建设、经济发展思路、经济发展战略、国内管理和国际合作5方面提出应对策略。     

絮凝床在茂名热电厂含油污水处理系统中的应用

絮凝床是中山大学开发的一种新型水处理设备．这种水处理技术在我省已用于包括含动、植物油类的污水处理工程中，１９９６年我院首次把这种设备用于茂名热电厂合油（矿物油）污水处理，工程建成投产以来取得了令人满意的效果。