Compliance Surveys Research Articles

Biosafety Risk Control Strategies in Laboratory Animal Research

To understand biosafety's current situation in laboratory animal research and risk factors affecting occupational health. Compliance surveys were conducted by questionnaire via Questionnaire Star (an application app on the Internet) in Chinese. Thirty-nine anonymous questionnaires were collected. The surveyed institution has established 24 types of ABSL (Animal Biosafety Laboratory) and biosafety management organizations and systems equipped with safety equipment. Our study also suggests that the principal of the laboratory establishment fails to perform supervision and inspection responsibilities, the inappropriate design of the animal biosafety laboratory, non-standardized personnel training and health management, non-strict waste management, and insufficient emergency management. The administrative department and work units should address certain safety and occupational health risks in laboratory animal research. The author proposes control strategies based on organizational guarantee, personnel management, emergency management, etc., to help prevent risks and ensure occupational health. Due to regional limitations and small sample size, the results may not be generalisable to all parts of the world. However, some of the key common issues may also be present in other regions, so we believe that this research still has some relevance.

Transferability Based on Drug Structure Similarity in the Automatic Classification of Noncompliant Drug Use on Social Media: Natural Language Processing Approach.

Medication noncompliance is a critical issue because of the increased number of drugs sold on the web. Web-based drug distribution is difficult to control, causing problems such as drug noncompliance and abuse. The existing medication compliance surveys lack completeness because it is impossible to cover patients who do not go to the hospital or provide accurate information to their doctors, so a social media-based approach is being explored to collect information about drug use. Social media data, which includes information on drug usage by users, can be used to detect drug abuse and medication compliance in patients. This study aimed to assess how the structural similarity of drugs affects the efficiency of machine learning models for text classification of drug noncompliance. This study analyzed 22,022 tweets about 20 different drugs. The tweets were labeled as either noncompliant use or mention, noncompliant sales, general use, or general mention. The study compares 2 methods for training machine learning models for text classification: single-sub-corpus transfer learning, in which a model is trained on tweets about a single drug and then tested on tweets about other drugs, and multi-sub-corpus incremental learning, in which models are trained on tweets about drugs in order of their structural similarity. The performance of a machine learning model trained on a single subcorpus (a data set of tweets about a specific category of drugs) was compared to the performance of a model trained on multiple subcorpora (data sets of tweets about multiple categories of drugs). The results showed that the performance of the model trained on a single subcorpus varied depending on the specific drug used for training. The Tanimoto similarity (a measure of the structural similarity between compounds) was weakly correlated with the classification results. The model trained by transfer learning a corpus of drugs with close structural similarity performed better than the model trained by randomly adding a subcorpus when the number of subcorpora was small. The results suggest that structural similarity improves the classification performance of messages about unknown drugs if the drugs in the training corpus are few. On the other hand, this indicates that there is little need to consider the influence of the Tanimoto structural similarity if a sufficient variety of drugs are ensured.

Influence of Demographic Disparities on Seat Belt Compliance in an Urban Area (Washington, DC)

This study evaluated the potential influence of demographic factors on seat belt compliance rates in an urban area. Washington D.C., which is the capital of the United States, is an urban area with mixed and diverse population. The city (and all states) conducts seat belt compliance surveys annually as a requirement of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This article used compliance rates obtained from the field for 2014 through 2020 and matched those with demographic data for the same timeframe. The demographic data for the city was obtained from the United States Census Bureau. Demographic variables including race, educational and income levels for the eight wards in Washington D.C. we extracted for analysis. Overall, seat belt compliance usage in Washington ranged from 93% to 95.7% between 2014 and 2020. Approximately 42.3% of its population are Caucasian while 43.9% are African Americans with the remaining being Asian, Hispanics and other races. In addition, seat belt usage was reported by ward. Using single factor analysis of variance, it was determined that compliance rates in the wards were not statistically influenced by race, educational level, or income level at 5% level of significance. However, when comparing yearly seatbelt compliance from 2014 to 2020, the compliance rates of 2014 versus 2019, and 2014 versus 2020 were determined to be statistically different. Seat belt use should be encouraged for everyone in all jurisdictions. The analysis shows that, in this urban area, the three demographic variables do not have any influence on the compliance rates.

HIV incidence and compliance with deferral criteria over three progressively shorter time deferrals for men who have sex with men in Canada.

In Canada, the deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) has been progressively reduced from a permanent deferral for MSM since 1977, to 5 years, 1 year, and, most recently, 3 months. We estimated human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) residual risk and compliance with the MSM time deferral after each change. Four anonymous online compliance surveys were carried out before and after each change. HIV incidence and prevalence were monitored from 2010 to 2021. Residual risk was estimated using the incidence-window period model. Human immunodeficiency virus prevalence, incidence, and residual risk did not change with incrementally shorter MSM deferrals. The residual risk per million donations post 3-month deferral was 0.05 (0.001-0.371). Men with temporally remote MSM history became eligible and, therefore, compliant as the deferral periods decreased (Cochran-Armitage p value=<.0001). However, the percentage of men with MSM history in the last 3 months with the indefinite deferral in place was similar to the percentage noncompliant, while the 3-month deferral was in place. MSM donors did not report high-risk behaviors for which they would otherwise be deferred in any survey. Following the change, an estimated 4467 MSM per year were eligible to donate, an increase from 2501 estimated eligible MSM donors following the change to the 1-year deferral. With progressively shorter MSM deferral periods, HIV residual risk was unchanged. The proportion of male donors with deferrable MSM history remained low, while those with temporally remote MSM history became eligible, increasing the number of eligible MSM donors.

Characterizing detection probabilities of advanced mobile leak surveys

Advanced leak detection (ALD) to survey local natural gas distribution systems has reached a point in technological maturity where new federal regulations will require its use in compliance surveys. Because most of these deployments are conducted by commercial providers, there has been little publicly available data documenting characteristics of the underlying methane (CH4) plumes that are the core features measured in ALD surveys. Here, we document key features of CH4 plumes measured in ALD surveys of 15 U.S. metropolitan areas where we had deployed high-sensitivity CH4 analyzers on Google Street View cars. Our analysis reveals that CH4 concentration enhancements from CH4 sources exhibit high temporal variability, often differing by more than 10-fold among repeated observations. This variability introduces challenges for estimating source emission rates because the same source can appear to be large on one drive-by and small on the next. Additionally, the frequency distribution of CH4 enhancements from a given source generally has a strong positive skew that can lead to overestimation of leak size. The magnitude of CH4 enhancements from a source measured with a mobile sensor can also change quickly over time, as indicated by decreasing temporal correlation between mobile measurements longer than an approximately hourly time scale. To manage the uncertainty, we demonstrate how additional survey effort can help overcome this variability and instability to allow discrimination among the wide range of leak sizes. We quantify the probability of source detection, finding that it increases with estimated leak size. Combining these results, we develop a simulation that demonstrates the potential for ALD to detect leaks and quantify emissions as a function of sampling (driving) effort. Our results suggest that five to eight drives of each roadway in a target area would detect &amp;gt;90% of leaks and provide adequate emissions quantification for repair/replacement prioritization.

CMS announces streamlined survey process for psychiatric hospitals

The Centers for Medicare &amp; Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Jan. 13 a streamlined survey and certification process for psychiatric hospitals, delivering on the agency's “Patients Over Paperwork” initiative. This new process will ensure safety and quality through more holistic and efficient hospital inspections that protect patients, while reducing burden for providers, CMS officials stated in a news release. Currently, psychiatric hospitals surveyed by State Survey Agencies (SSAs) are subject to two separate on‐site compliance surveys, one by the SSA for compliance with the hospital requirements and one by an outside contractor selected by the SSA for compliance with two additional psychiatric hospital standards. Beginning in March, the CMS will implement a streamlined process in which psychiatric hospitals will receive one comprehensive hospital survey performed by the SSA to review compliance with both hospital and psychiatric hospital participation requirements, allowing inspectors to take a broader view of a psychiatric hospital's operations and better identify systemic quality issues. To ensure states are appropriately prepared to begin conducting these surveys in March 2020, the CMS is developing an online training that will be released soon. For more information, visit www.cms.gov/Outreach‐and‐Education/Outreach/Partnerships/PatientsOverPaperwork.

Compliance with time-based deferrals for men who have sex with men.

The deferral for men who have sex with men (MSM) was reduced from a permanent deferral for MSM if even one time since 1977 to progressively shorter time deferrals of 5 years and 1 year in Canada. We assessed compliance with these deferrals and the impact on safety at Canadian Blood Services. Three anonymous online compliance surveys of male whole blood donors were carried out before and after implementation of successive changes. HIV rates and incidence were monitored from January 1, 2011, to August 14, 2018. Participation rates in the consecutive surveys were 49.7% before implementation, 36.3% after 5 years and 36.3% after 1 year. There was no difference before versus after implementation in male donors with MSM history in the past year (0.21%, 0.19%, 0.24%; p = 0.70). The percentage of eligible MSM donors increased (0.13%, 0.66%, 1.21%; p < 0.0001), with approximately 2500 eligible MSM donors with the 1-year deferral in place. HIV rates were less than 0.6 per 100,000 donations and unchanged after each policy change (p = 0.14 for trend). Incidence remained unchanged at 0.22 per 100,000 person-years before implementation, 0.54 per 100,000 after 5-year deferral, and no incident cases after 1-year deferral (p = 0.55). Progressively shorter time deferrals had no impact on noncompliance of MSM with a male partner in the past year. Contrary to modeling predictions, shorter time deferrals had no impact on HIV rates or incidence. There was a modest increase in eligible MSM in the donor pool after each shorter time deferral. These results support the safety of reducing deferral periods for MSM.

Limitations of the random response technique and a call to implement the ballot box method for estimating recreational angler compliance using surveys

Accurate estimation of the levels of non-compliance to fishing regulations is crucial in ensuring that long term sustainability goals of fisheries are met. When requesting information regarding sensitive behaviour, such as an angler’s non-compliance to regulations through direct questioning methods (DQM), their responses can be influenced by social desirability bias (SDB). Literature in human dimensions research on methods for controlling this bias is limited. There has been an emerging prevalence in the use of the random response technique (RRT), which is a method aimed at reducing SDB in questions regarding sensitive behaviour, although it has never been validated against observed data in an environmental resource use context. An alternative to the RRT, the use of a ballot box method (BBM) has been successfully implemented to reduce SDB in contingent valuation studies and is introduced in this paper as a method for reducing SDB in face-to-face survey responses regarding sensitive behaviour. The RRT, BBM and a baseline DQM were compared for accuracy in obtaining honest responses from non-compliant anglers in South Africa’s recreational marine based shore fishery (MBSF) who were covertly observed violating various regulations. A total of 79.6% of anglers who were interviewed using the BBM admitted to breaking the observed regulation. However, only 46.5% and 38.5% of the anglers who were interviewed using the DQM and RRT admitted to breaking the regulations. The length of the angler interview using the RRT was also significantly longer than the BBM and DQM. These results suggest that the BBM is the most accurate and practical method for reducing SDB in compliance surveys.

Compliance Assessment of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act in Public Places in Delhi Government Hospitals

Objective:Tobacco-free policies in hospital campus reduce exposure to tobacco smoke; change the demeanour of the professionals, patients and people visiting hospitals towards tobacco use. Section-4, 5 and 6 of COTPA (Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act) necessitates the need for implementation of the prohibition on smoking in public places. Against this background, the present work was designed to evaluate the status of compliance Section 4, 5 and 6 of COTPA in Delhi Government hospitalsMethods:A cross-sectional observational study was conducted within Government hospitals. Multistage random sampling was used to select 18 hospitals out of 39 hospitals from 5 zones. Standard assessment Proforma developed by John Hopkins School of Public Health for assessing compliance to Tobacco-Free Law was used and modified to address certain aspects of Section-4, 5 and 6 of COTPA. Hospital campuses were assessed by dividing them into zones like hospital buildings, office buildings, public places outside the hospital and residential areas.Result:Signs of active tobacco use observed in 40.6% of hospital buildings, 35.3% in office buildings, and 75.4% in public places outside the buildings. ‘No smoking signage was not as per the COTPA guidelines in 21.4% of the hospitals and 72% were not tobacco free outdoors in these positions.Conclusion:The study highlighted a lower compliance rate than expected which raises questions on law enforcement concerning tobacco. Hence necessary measures have to be used up for sustained awareness campaigns, backed by enforcement drives. Periodic compliance surveys will strengthen the implementation of tobacco free legislation in health care institutions.

Bags and tags: randomized response technique indicates reductions in illegal recreational fishing of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) in Northern California

Illegal fishing has detrimental environmental and social impacts, but these effects are difficult to mitigate without reliable estimates of fisher noncompliance. This research makes a case for the use of the randomized response technique (RRT) as a tool to inform conservation policy with respect to regulatory compliance. RRT was used to generate estimates of non-compliance in the Northern California recreational red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) fishery before and after the introduction of new tagging regulations and marine protected areas (MPAs). Anonymous paper-based compliance and sociodemographic surveys were conducted with recreational fishers in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties in August of 2007 and 2011. The 2011 survey found reductions in illegal take across most violation types, and since the introduction of on-animal tagging regulations the proportional daily take limit violation among local residents was found to have decreased from 72% to 43%. The results indicate higher non-compliance rates among visitors than local fishers regarding licensing laws, minimum size limits, and annual catch limits. Locals were proportionately more likely to violate the daily catch limit and the new regulations, though 85% of the fishers surveyed were aware of them. The rule-specific violation estimates RRT generates provide managers with a level of detail about non-compliant behavior that is unique, and can point to opportunities for improving managerial communication and enforcement.

Refining compliance surveys to measure the smokefree status of jurisdictions using the Delphi method.

Compliance assessment surveys are cost-effective means of assessing smokefree status in a jurisdiction. Assigning weights to assessment criteria (indicators) can also inform law implementers and policy makers about the effectiveness of the enforcement of smokefree rules. To develop a standardised measure for compliance surveys using the Delphi method in India. Tobacco control experts from India comprising different constituencies and jurisdictions met for a half-day workshop in August 2012 to deliberate on how weights can be assigned to criteria for smokefree status. Using the Delphi method, the relevance and ranking of criteria from an existing protocol for measuring compliance was evaluated. Consensus was reached on all five compliance survey indicators through three rigorous rounds of discussion. The highest priority was assigned to the absence of the act of smoking in public places (33%), followed by the display of no-smoking signage in public places (32%), absence of cigarette butts or bidi stubs (15%), absence of smoking aids (10%) and absence of tobacco smoke and ash (10%). Tobacco control advocates can effectively inform local policy makers using weights that prioritise directed enforcement and targeted interventions, which in turn will ensure stronger compliance and sustainable smokefree settings.

Erratum.

IN THE ARTICLE entitled 'Compliance surveys: an effective tool to validate smoke-free public places in four jurisdictions in India' by P. G. Lal, N. C. Wilson, R. J. Singh (Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2011; 15(4): 565-566; http://dx.doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.10.0372), an error occurred in the wording of the Table.

Compliance surveys: an effective tool to validate smoke-free public places in four jurisdictions in India [Notes from the field

Smoke-free initiatives have gained significant momentum since India enacted comprehensive smoke-free legislation in October 2008. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease has actively supported various levels of government, legislators, civil society, and communities across the country to implement smoke-free public places and comply with the law. On World No Tobacco Day 2010, four jurisdictions demonstrated that public places within their jurisdictions were smoke-free. These jurisdictions cover a wide spectrum of demographic and geographic variation and include an entire state. The demonstration of being 'smoke-free' in these jurisdictions was supported by a simple survey that documented compliance with the smoke-free law in the country.

Long-Term Weekly Iron-Folic Acid and De-Worming Is Associated with Stabilised Haemoglobin and Increasing Iron Stores in Non-Pregnant Women in Vietnam

BackgroundThe prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency in women remains high worldwide. WHO recommends weekly iron-folic acid supplementation where anaemia rates in non-pregnant women of reproductive age are higher than 20%. In 2006, a demonstration project consisting of weekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming was set up in two districts in a northern province in Vietnam where anaemia and hookworm rates were 38% and 76% respectively. In 2008 the project was expanded to all districts in the province, targeting some 250,000 women. The objectives of this study were to: 1) examine changes in haemoglobin, iron stores and soil transmitted helminth infection prevalence over three years and 2) assess women's access to and compliance with the intervention.Methods and FindingsThe study was a semi-cross-sectional, semi-longitudinal panel design with a baseline survey, three impact surveys at three-, twelve- and thirty months after commencement of the intervention, and three compliance surveys after ten weeks, eighteen and thirty six months.ResultsAfter thirty months, mean haemoglobin stabilised at 130.3 g/L, an increase of 8.2 g/L from baseline, and mean serum ferritin rose from 23.9 µg/L to 52 µg/L. Hookworm prevalence fell from 76% to 22% over the same period. After thirty six months, 81% of the target population were receiving supplements and 87% were taking 75% or more of the supplements they received.ConclusionsWeekly iron-folic acid supplementation and regular de-worming was effective in significantly and sustainably reducing the prevalence of anaemia and soil transmitted helminth infections and high compliance rates were maintained over three years.

Application of PUF Foam Inserts for Respirable Dust Measurements in the Brick-Manufacturing Industry

Institute of Occupational Medicine dual-fraction samplers equipped with porous polyurethane foam inserts have been introduced as a cheaper alternative to cyclone pre-selectors for measuring respirable dust. Initial data from a variety of industries suggested that the dual-fraction sampler yielded similar results as personal cyclones and that the respirable selection of the foam was not adversely affected by particle loading. We conducted a similar study, but specifically in the brick industry to assess the validity of this dual-fraction sampler as an alternative to personal cyclones in this industry. A total of 72 side-by-side samples using Higgins-Dewell cyclones and dual-fraction samplers were taken in seven UK factories manufacturing a variety of bricks. A priori measurements were assigned to any of the three groups based on the dominant source of the particulates in the exposure matrix (clay, sand or mixed) at the location in the factories where the measurements were taken. After log transformation, Higgins-Dewell cyclone-measured concentrations were on average 1.9 times higher than the concentrations measured by the dual-fraction samplers, with a Pearson correlation of 0.78 (95% confidence interval 0.66-0.85). Stratified analysis by main source of exposure suggested that the correlation was best for silica dust-based exposures r(p) = 0.88 (0.63-0.96), but decreased with the relative importance of clay particulates in the exposure matrix to r(p) = 0.82 (0.59-0.93) in the 'mixed-source' group and r(p) = 0.74 (0.55-0.85) in the 'clay particulates' group. Similarly, performance of the dual-fraction sampler relative to the cyclone sampler was negatively associated with increased relative importance of clay particulates in the exposure matrix and ranged from similar measured concentration beta = 0.96 (0.54-1.39) for silica to 50% under sampling beta = 0.50 (0.33-0.67) for clay particulates. These results suggested that the overall performance of the dual-fraction sampler in the brick industry depends on the relative importance of clay particulates in the exposure matrix. As such, results from occupational hygiene compliance surveys close to the occupational exposure limit can lead to erroneous decisions on compliance.

Effects of Electrical Stimulator Use with Boston Overlapping Bracing for Spondylolysis Healing in Athletes

Repetitive load on the spine increases the risk of back pain and spondylolysis. “High-risk” sports include ballet, diving, figure skating, football, gymnastics, rowing, weight lifting, and wrestling. Rates of spondylolysis in sports have been reported from 17 to 43%. Electrical stimulation (e-stim) is typically used to heal recalcitrant cases of non-union. Retrospective studies suggest that e-stim may improve healing rates of spondylolysis. PURPOSE: To determine if patients with spondylolysis fractures have a higher rate of healing with the Boston Overlapping Brace (BOB) and e-stim versus those who use BOB alone. METHODS: In this prospective case control study, 56 athletes ages 12–22 (mean= 16) with extension-based back pain were enrolled after being diagnosed with spondylolysis by either positive SPECT bone scan and CT scan, or positive MRI and CT scan. Patients were randomly assigned to standard treatment or experimental treatment. The standard arm (BOB group) consisted of activity restriction, antilordotic bracing 23 hours/day, and physical therapy (PT). The experimental arm (e-stim group) involved standard therapy plus an external electrical bone stimulator, worn outside the brace over the spondylolysis site 3 hours/day. At 4 months, repeat CT exams were obtained. Patients in the standard group who were still experiencing back pain and had radiographic evidence of non-union of the fracture were then crossed-over to begin e-stim therapy (CO group). Patients were followed for one year with physical exams, compliance and pain surveys, and CT scans until bony/fibrous union was noted. RESULTS: 30 patients were randomized to e-stim, 26 patients to BOB, and 7 of the BOB patients became CO patients. Bony or fibrous union was noted on CT in 20/50 of the e-stim group, 13/32 in the BOB group, and 6/7 of the CO group. When radiographic results of e-stim and CO were combined and compared with BOB using chi square testing, there was no significant difference in the frequency of bony/fibrous union between the two groups (p ≤ 1.0). CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary data of this study suggest that adding e-stim to BOB and PT in the treatment of spondylolysis does not improve the rate of bony/ fibrous union compared to BOB and PT alone. However, more patients are being recruited to enhance future subgroup analysis.

A Randomised Intervention Trial to Assess Two Arsenic Mitigation Options in Bangladesh

TAA2-O-03 Introduction: Arsenic groundwater contamination in Bangladesh warrants immediate remediation. This randomized controlled intervention trial was conducted to determine the effectiveness of 2 possible interventions: dug wells and 3 pitcher filters. Methods: A total of 640 individuals participated: with 218 randomized to the dug well group, 216 to the 3 pitcher group, and 206 to a control group. Baseline information on socio-demographics, water use patterns, history of arsenic exposure, body mass index, and smoking status was collected. Following the activation of the dug wells and 3 pitcher filters, postinterventional compliance surveys were carried out after 1, 6, and 12 months. Water samples from all the dug wells after 1, 6, and 12 months and from the randomly selected 88 3 pitcher filters after 10 months of intervention were collected to test the total arsenic concentration of these interventions. Urine samples were collected from all the participants at baseline, after 1 and 12 months of intervention for total and speciated arsenic concentration. Results: Self-reported compliance with dug wells remained below 20% during the entire 12 months of the study. The compliance with the 3 pitcher filters decreased after 6 months and became similar to the compliance of the dug well group after 12 months. A substantial decrease in urinary arsenic metabolites occurred only among those who were compliant to dug well and 3 pitcher filter after 1 month of intervention as opposed to control participants. However, a persistent reduction in urinary arsenic concentrations was observed only among the dug well users after 12 months of intervention. Discussion and Conclusions: Our results show that a functional dug well could be offered as a long-term alternative to tube wells, but use of this option is likely to be low, unless appropriate behavioral change measures are taken. Our study also demonstrates that arsenic removal technologies such as 3 pitcher filters are an effective option as a short-term measure. The 3 pitcher filters that are not adequately maintained are not an effective option for a year. These arsenic removal technologies may be even harmful in the long-term if the resultant water quality is not properly monitored.

Best Practices for Enforcing State Laws Prohibiting the Sale of Tobacco to Minors

To determine best practices for enforcing public health laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors. The author compared annual merchant compliance surveys to identify the 10 highest and the 10 lowest performing states. State and federal documents describing state efforts to improve compliance with their laws from 1995 to 2004 were systematically reviewed for evidence concerning the effectiveness of 26 enforcement strategies. These were rated as essential, recommended as a best practice, not recommended, or unable to rate. The following strategies appear essential to high performance: a law enforcement strategy with a state agency coordinating enforcement, state funding of test purchases for enforcement, prosecution of offenders with penalties for violating the law, and effective merchant education. The following features are not recommended: warnings in lieu of penalties for offenders, reliance upon nonfunded local enforcement, and limitations placed on enforcement authority or the conduct of test purchases. Some states have achieved high compliance with the law by pursuing a variety of strategies employing common elements. Others have hampered their efforts by pursuing counterproductive strategies.

Forestry Best Management Practices Research in the Eastern United States: the State of the Science 2002. Foreword

( ∗ author for correspondence) In the 1972 Clean Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency introduced a new approach for managing nonpoint source pollution called Best Management Practices (Ice et al., 1997). This approach was directed toward the most common sources of nonpoint source pollution: agriculture, urban storm water, hydromodification, transportation systems, marinas, and forestry. EPA periodically reports the extent of waterbody impairment separately for these and other sources of nonpoint pollution. Forestry is ranked as one of the lowest sources (US EPA, 2002). Although forestry contributes relatively low quantities of water pollutants as compared to other land uses, forestry arguably has developed the most sophisticated BMP programs in the U.S. Indeed, all 50 states have forestry BMP programs (NASF, 2001), and many state forestry agencies periodically assess the extent of BMP implementation (Prud’homme and Greis, 2002). Florida has the longest implementation monitoring record, having conducted 11 consecutive biennial BMP compliance surveys (Vowell and Lima, 2002 ). In the most recent Florida BMP survey, 97% of specific BMPs were found to have been adequately implemented in a random sample of 201 forestry operations. As is common for most policy instruments, BMPsare usually enhanced, altered, and modified by an iterative process that considers social and economic factors and is based on a foundation of science. As forestry BMP research improves our understanding of nonpoint source pollution management, there is a continuing need to periodically incorporate new research findings into revised or new BMPs. Therefore, most states have gone through at least one major BMP revision, while some have developed several iterations of BMPs. The papers in this issue were presented at a Forestry BMP Research Symposium held April 15‐17, 2002 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The symposium was held to facilitate research in the eastern United States to improve the ability of forestry Best Management Practices to protect water quality. Specific goals of the symposium were: (1) to communicate BMP research findings among scientists and between research and operational forestry; (2) to discuss methodological issues in BMP

The 1998 University of Wyoming/Grand Teton National Park Cooperative Archaeology Program

As of this writing we have completed the third year of a cooperative UW/GTNP archaeological project, with 1998 being the first season. The primary purpose here is to provide a brief overview of some of the accomplishments of that first field season. This basic "UW/NPS Research Center Annual Report" format then will have two more installments for 1999 and 2000. More attention is given in this first report to background such as the history of archaeological research in Grand Teton National Park, while subsequent reports will emphasize other types of information. No attempt is made here to provide detailed discussions of field methods, project environmental settings, or individual sites, features, and artifacts. Such description would be standard in some archaeological reporting formats, but much more detailed discussions, and more synthesis of regional prehistory, is being assembled in a series of project­ specific compliance reports, conference papers, seminar papers, a graduate student thesis, and journal articles. The possibility of a cooperative University of Wyoming/Grand Teton National Park venture was first proposed by Robert Schiller, Director of the Science and Resource Management Division at Grand Teton. It was apparent that a series of mutual benefits could result, where University archaeologists would aid the Park with its increasing number of federally-mandated compliance projects while at the same time providing student training and employment opportunities. In addition, nearly 400 sites had been located in Grand Teton National Park and the adjacent Rockefeller Parkway at that time, but very little current information was available for many of them and modem re­evaluations were needed. At the same time, these various "applied research" compliance surveys and site revisit projects could contribute to broader theoretical frameworks relevant to our research throughout the region. The investigation of prehistoric settlement patterns and other aspects of landscape utilization is enhanced even by basic surface evidence, for example. The 1998 UW/GTNP CAP crew included the writer, UW Anthropology graduate students Alan Bartholomew and Mike Peterson, and volunteer archaeologist Jill Anderson. All work in Grand Teton has been coordinated with Park Historian Mike Johnson and USFS/GTNP Archaeologist Merry Haydon. Dave Hammond with the GTNP GPS unit and several other individuals aided with our projects. Yellowstone National Park Archaeologist Ann Johnson provided needed advice and materials on several occasions. All of our work was only possible because of the availability of the AMK Science Camp facilities, and the hospitality provided there by Hank and Mary Ann Harlow and their staff.