Urban policy impact evaluation : towards a systematic approach.

The main objective of this research is to develop a systematic approach for comprehensive ex-post evaluation of urban policy. In broad terms, urban policies are central government initiatives applied in a spatially targeted manner within urban areas where specific needs have been identified. 'Comprehensive' is defined as the attempt to answer all the questions policy-makers and stakeholders are likely to raise at the various stages of the planning and implementation process. In moving towards the achievement of this objective a number of different, yet supplementary, sources of knowledge and experience are examined. Part 1 reviews the underlying assumptions and strengths and weaknesses of existing appraisal methods and examines their applicability in ex-post evaluation and the choice among them. It also examines the different views and models of both monitoring and implementation analysis and the role each can play within a comprehensive evaluation approach. Part 2 examines evaluation methods adopted in a number of case studies in various fields. It starts with the first hand experience in urban policy evaluation within a governmental context. Then, it critically reviews the methodology adopted for evaluation in a number of case studies in the field of urban policy. Evaluation traditions in the fields of regional (economic) policy in Britain and, trunk road and motorway schemes in the UK, USA and the Netherlands are also reviewed. These different strands are brought together in the form of a flexible systematic approach for comprehensive ex-post evaluation of urban policy. The choice of the 'components' of the approach is based, to a large extent, on the first part of the research. However, the organisation of the approach and the exact role each tool can play are greatly informed by the second part

ENV-625: IMPACTS OF TREATED WASTEWATER REUSE IN IRRIGATION ON GROUNDWATER: CASE STUDY OF SADAT CITY – EGYPT

Groundwater is becoming an essential water resource in Egypt due to the deficit in water balance. It is planned to increase withdrawal in 2017 to 7.5 BCM and 3.5 BCM from renewable and non-renewable groundwater aquifers, respectively. In recent years there have been efforts to protect this water resource. The main objective of this paper is studying the impacts of reusing treated wastewater in irrigation after natural attenuation through the vadose zone. Hydrogeological data were collected to characterize the aquifer in Sadat City. A field program was conducted to identify the saturated hydraulic conductivities of the aquifer and the contaminant concentrations in groundwater. Field investigations were conducted by drilling five boreholes in the study area and five monitoring wells were installed. Groundwater flow and solute transport were simulated by VISUAL MODFLOW and MT3D. Four contaminants of concern were selected for simulation: magnesium, chloride, iron and nitrates. Seven irrigation scenarios were tested: primary treated wastewater, secondary treated wastewater, oxidation pond wastewater, tertiary treated wastewater, tertiary for double field water duty, irrigation with two-year rotation (primary treated wastewater and groundwater) and in the last scenario the study area is divided into 3 zones and irrigated with tertiary treated wastewater, oxidation pond wastewater and groundwater. The simulation results of the seven scenarios were presented and compared to the initial concentrations in groundwater. The results show that the contaminants of concern concentrations depend on initial concentrations in groundwater and the quality of the infiltrated water from the vadose zone

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection among children with primary nephrotic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Background: Limited data are available about the prevalence of helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) infection among primary NS children. Objectives: To assess the frequency and risk factors of H.pylori infection among children with primary NS. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in Mansoura University Children\u2019s Hospital, Egypt during the period from 2017 to 2019 including 100 NS children (NS group) and 100 healthy controls. NS group included 88 steroid sensitive (SSNS) and 12 steroid resistant (SRNS) cases. All patients were assessed for H.pylori infection using H.pylori stool antigen (HpSA) test. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square, fisher exact and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: With regard to HpSA test results, no significant differences were detected between control and NS groups (p = 0.193) and between SSNS and SRNS groups (p = 0.286). Concerning total biopsied cases and MCD (proven plus presumed) cases, no significant differences were found between those with positive and negative HpSA test (p = 0.648 and 0.126, respectively). The high dose of steroid therapy was associated with a higher risk of H.pylori infection among NS group (Odds ratio = 3.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.3-11.3). Conclusion: The current study negates the increased risk of H.pylori infection in children with primary NS

Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-Mo-Zr-Cr Biomedical Alloys by Powder Metallurgy

[EN] Titanium and its alloys have been widely used as biometals due to their excellent biocompatibility, corrosion resistance and moderate mechanical properties. Ti-15Mo-6Zr-based alloys and a series of Ti-15Mo-6Zr-xCr (x = 1, 2, 3, 4 wt.%) alloys were designed and fabricated by powder metallurgy for the first time to develop novel biomedical materials. The microstructure, internal porosity and mechanical properties of the sintered Ti-15Mo-6Zr and Ti-15Mo-6Zr-xCr alloys were investigated using scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and bending and compression tests. The experimental results indicated that the microstructure and mechanical properties of these alloys changed as different Cr levels were added. The addition of small Cr levels further increased the β-phase stability, improving the properties of the Ti-15Mo-6Zr-xCr alloy. However, all of the alloys had good ductility, and the Ti-15Mo-6Zr-2Cr alloy had lower bending and compression moduli (31 and 23 GPa, respectively) than the Ti-15Mo-6Zr-based alloys (40 and 36 GPa, respectively). Moreover, the Ti-15Mo-6Zr-2Cr alloys exhibited higher bending and compression strength/modulus ratios, which were as large as 48.4 and 52.2, respectively; these were higher than those of the Ti-15Mo-6Zr-based alloy (41.3 and 33.6, respectively). In the search for a better implant material, β phase Ti-15Mo-6Zr-2Cr, with its low modulus, ductile properties and reasonably high strength, is a promising candidate.The authors thank the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for financially supporting the research project MAT2014-53764-C3-1-R and the European Commission through the Erasmus Mundus scholarship program WELCOME. The European Commission via FEDER funds allowed for the purchase of equipment for research and Microscopy Service of the Polytechnic University of Valencia.Elshalakany, AB.; Ali, S.; Amigó Mata, A.; Eessaa, AK.; Mohan, P.; Osman, T.; Amigó, V. (2017). Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Ti-Mo-Zr-Cr Biomedical Alloys by Powder Metallurgy. Journal of Materials Engineering and Performance. 26(3):1262-1271. doi:10.1007/s11665-017-2531-zS12621271263M. Geetha, A.K. Singh, R. Asokamani, and A.K. Gogia, Ti Based Biomaterials, the Ultimate Choice for Orthopaedic Implants—A Review, Prog. Mater Sci., 2009, 54, p 397–425M. Ahmed, D.G. Savvakin, O.M. Ivasishin, and E.V. Pereloma, The Effect of Ageing on Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Powder Ti-5Al-5Mo-5V-1Cr-1Fe Alloy, Mater. Sci. Eng., 2014, A605, p 89–97M. Niinomi, Mechanical Biocompatibilities of Titanium Alloys for Biomedical Applications, J. Mech. Behav. Biomed. Mater., 2008, 1(30–4), p 2M.P. Licausi, A. 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Nitric oxide levels in chronic liver disease patients with and without oesophageal varices

Introduction Patients with chronic liver disease ultimately progress to develop cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Recently it seems well established that nitric oxide disturbances play a key role in the pathogenesis of chronic liver disease and portal hypertension. The aim of this work was to clarify the correlation between chronic liver disease stages, liver function status, esophageal varices presence and nitric oxide disturbances. Subjects and methods All subjects (n = 120) in the present study were classified into; group I which included 15 age and sex matched healthy volunteers (taken as control), group II which included 20 patients with chronic active hepatitis, and group III which included 85 patients with hepatic cirrhosis. All subjects included were subjected to full clinical assessment, routine laboratory investigations, serum nitrate level determination using colorimetric method, abdominal ultrasonography and upper endoscopy. Results Increased serum nitrate level could not be detected in patients with chronic active hepatitis as well as those with early cirrhosis (Child’s class A). Progressive and significant increase of serum nitrate levels were detected in more advanced stages of cirrhosis (Child’s class B & C). The best non-invasive predictor for the presence of oesophageal varices was a combination of platelet count <150.000/mm3, splenomegaly >18 cm, Child’s class B or C and serum nitrate ≥38 μmol/l, with 93.3% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Conclusion Serum nitrate level can be used as a non-invasive predictor for progression of chronic liver disease as well as for the presence of oesophageal varices

Impact of suture annuloplasty repair for moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation in rheumatic patients undergoing mitral valve replacement (Early outcome)

Background: In this study, we examine the outcomes of tricuspid valve repair against non-repair to see if there is a near-term progression of non-corrected moderate functional TR in patients who had mitral valve replacement for rheumatic mitral disease and if RV size and function were affected. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of the De Vega annuloplasty for repair of moderate functional TV regurge during the left heart valve surgery in early post-operative period. Patients and methods:A prospective randomized controlled trial will contain (forty patients aged from 25 to 55 years of both sexes )they will be divided into two groups of patients: Group A: Twenty patients with moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation who received tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TVA) in the form of De vega repair along with mitral valve replacement. Group B: Twenty patients with moderate functional tricuspid regurgitation who received mitral valve replacement without tricuspid valve annuloplasty (TVA). Results: TR and right ventricle diameter were found to be significantly reduced in Group A. In group B, (6) individuals (30%) had developed grade IV/IV TR after 6 months, while 65% of patients developed competent tricuspid valve after 6 months in group A .Furthermore, in group B, TABSE (tricuspid annular systemic excursion) had dropped significantly to 1.7±0.2 cm. Conclusion: In the early postoperative period, tricuspid suture annuloplasty combined with MVR can prevent the advancement of tricuspid regurgitation, right ventricular dilatation, and systolic dysfunction