An Innovative Geocentric Decision Support Solution to Comprehensive Planning, Design, Operation, and Management of Urban Drainage Systems

Geographic Information System (GIS) is quickly becoming a critical component to develop and sustain asset management for today’s wastewater utilities as most of their data is geographically referenced. This technology offers sophisticated data management and spatial analysis capabilities that can greatly improve and facilitate urban drainage infrastructure modeling and analysis applications. This paper presents a comprehensive GIS-based decision support system that integrates several technologies for use in the effective management of urban stormwater collection systems. It explicitly integrates ESRI ArcGIS geospatial model with advanced hydrologic, hydraulic, and water quality simulation algorithms, nature-based global optimization techniques including genetic algorithms for design and calibration of stormwater management models, automated dry weather flow generation and allocation, and automated subcatchment delineation and parameter extraction tools to address every facet of urban drainage infrastructure management. The geocentric interface allows seamless communication among the various modules. The resulting decision support system effortlessly reads GIS datasets, extracts necessary modeling information, and automatically constructs, loads, designs, calibrates, analyzes and optimizes a representative urban drainage model considering hydrologic and hydraulic performance requirements. It also makes it easy to run, simulate and compare various modeling scenarios, identify system deficiencies, and determine cost-effective physical and operational improvements to achieve optimum performance and regulatory compliance. These combined capabilities provide favorable geospatial environment to assist wastewater utilities in planning, designing, and operating reliable systems and in optimizing their capital improvement programs

Geophysical investigations of a geothermal anomaly at Wadi Ghadir, eastern Egypt

During regional heat flow studies a geothermal anomaly was discovered approximately 2 km from the Red Sea coast at Wadi Ghadir, in the Red Sea Hills of Eastern Egypt. A temperature gradient of 55 C/km was measured in a 150 m drillhole at this location, indicating a heat flow of approximately 175 mw/sqm, approximately four times the regional background heat flow for Egypt. Gravity and magnetic data were collected along Wadi Ghadir, and combined with offshore gravity data, to investigate the source of the thermal anomaly. Magnetic anomalies in the profile do not coincide with the thermal anomaly, but were observed to correlate with outcrops of basic rocks. Other regional heat flow and gravity data indicate that the transition from continental to oceanic type lithosphere occurs close to the Red Sea margin, and that the regional thermal anomaly is possibly related to the formation of the Red Sea

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults from North Africa.

The share of North African immigrants in Europe is growing continuously. In this review, we aimed to systematically analyse and describe the literature on weight status and physical activity in North African adults, both in their home country and after immigration to Europe. Existing data on North African residents and on North African immigrants in Europe were analysed by a systematic search on PUBMED. There is a wide variation among countries in the prevalence of overweight/obesity, with immigrants showing higher values. The overall results revealed a higher prevalence of overweight and obesity in females than in males in North African residents. Females also show higher levels of obesity among immigrants. In particular, literature reports indicate that 1.3-47.8% of North African residents and 3.6-49.4% of North African immigrants in adult age are overweight or obese. Physical inactivity is higher than 20% in males and 40% in females in North African residents. The highest frequency of physically inactive or lightly active people among immigrants was observed in first-generation Sudanese and Moroccans in Amsterdam (males: 57.1%; females: 74.2%), with increasing rates in second-generation females. The results underline a higher health risk in North African immigrants than in residents. Specific public health strategies should be adopted in various populations of North African origin to control the obesity epidemic

A case of corticosteroid-dependent recurrent pericarditis with different response to two IL-1 blocking agents

Background: Recurrent pericarditis (RP) represents the most troublesome presentation of pericarditis and has a controversial pathogenesis that crosses infectious, auto-immune and auto-inflammatory pathways. It has been suggested that in some cases it might be an unrecognized auto-inflammatory disease. Recent studies have demonstrated that anakinra, an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), represents an effective treatment for the control of corticosteroid-dependent cases. Objectives: To describe a case of cortico-dependent recurrent pericarditis with a different response to two IL-1 blocking agents, anakinra and canakinumab. Methods: Case report Results: 11 years old boy who was admitted to our hospital because of acute precordial pain, orthopnea, fever and increased levels of acute phase reactants. Acute pericarditis was confirmed by echocardiography and a treatment with prednisone was started with prompt clinical improvement. Pericarditis recurred twice during steroid tapering (1mg/kg/day and 0.5mg/kg/day respectively). After exclusion of infectious origin, therapy with anakinra (2mg/kg/day) was established (to avoid long term steroid side effects) followed by dramatic clinical response and normalisation of laboratory findings despite tapering and discontinuation of prednisone. Treatment with anakinra was discontinued after 5 months with recurrence of pericarditis one week later. Anakinra was resumed with an excellent response. Five months later, while being in complete remission, anakinra was replaced with canakinumab (2mg/kg/dose) due to patient’s intolerance of daily injections. One week later, the patient experienced a new episode of pericarditis requiring corticotherapy. Two more relapses occured during steroid tapering, after 6 weeks and 2 months, in spite of the uptitration of canakinumab to 4mg/kg/dose. Anakinra was restarted with prompt clinical and biological remission and prednisone was discontinuated without recurrence of pericarditis. After further four weeks follow-up under anakinra alone, the pericarditis is still in remission. Conclusion: We describe a case of steroid-dependent RP with a dramatic therapeutic response to IL-1RA (anakinra) but without response to IL-1β monoclonal antibody (canakinumab). This unexpected observation could suggest that Il-1α might have a role in the pathogenesis of RP. The definitive potential usefulness of each IL-1 blocking agent requires confirmation in prospective controlled trials

Assessing Graduate Teaching Development Programs for Impact on Future Faculty

Long-term training programs for teaching assistants have greater impactTraining programs for university teaching assistants (TAs) improve the quality of teaching and learning. But a new HEQCO study of short and long-term training programs at two Ontario universities finds that while both make important contributions, long programs had a greater impact.Assessing Graduate Teaching Development Programs for Impact on Future Faculty was conducted at the University of Windsor and Western University, whose teaching and learning centres offer a wide range of TA training programs -- short, orientation-style conferences and longer, intensive workshops throughout the year.Project descriptionThe study used self-reported measures of TAs’ attitudes to teaching and teaching self-efficacy before and after each program, combined with focus group interviews four months after program completion. The goal was to assess and compare the impact of the programs and to link specific types of programming to measurable outcomes. FindingsTeaching development programs help improve the teaching effectiveness of new TAs in a variety of ways, according to the study. TAs felt better prepared for their role as instructors after participating in training. Both short (one-day events) and long programs (20-40 hours) contributed to increased teaching self-efficacy and to an increase in student-focused approaches to teaching. The focus groups found that when TAs began to teach on their own, they were able to apply the teaching techniques, course design principles and student-focused approaches to teaching that they learn in TA training programs. Participants in short programs emphasized concrete teaching techniques for facilitating discussions, marking, asking effective questions and becoming more familiar with expectations for the teaching assistant role. Participants in longer programs demonstrated greater confidence in using principles of course design and alignment and articulating learning outcomes, and showed a greater depth of reflection on teaching. Long programs also created communities of TAs from a variety of disciplines, where discussion about teaching continued beyond the end of the program. Participants also shared innovative teaching techniques or course design strategies with their peers and with faculty members. The study found that both programs make an important contribution – but do so in different ways. Short programs serve as a gateway to further teaching development, allowing new graduate students to learn a few very practical teaching strategies and better understand the benefits of further training. Longer programs allow participants to build community and strategically prepare for careers in teaching, whether inside or outside academia.The authors note that it is important for teaching centres and departments to clearly communicate the differences between the outcomes of orientation-style and more in-depth programs.Further researchAddition research could explore long-term changes in TAs’ approaches to teaching after training, as well as the impact of TA training on student learning, say the authors, complementing the self-report measures used in this study with observer and student ratings of TA teaching in real classroom settings. Other HEQCO studies that explore teaching and TA development include a report on two University of Toronto TA training programs, a study of Western University’s international TA training programs and an overview of the evolution of teaching and learning centres in Ontario colleges and universities.Authors of Assessing Graduate Teaching Development Programs for Impact on Future Faculty are Nanda Dimitrov, Ken Meadows, Erika Kustra, Theimann Ackerson, Laura Prada, Nick Baker, Pierre Boulos, Gayle McIntyre and Michael K. Potter

EFFECT OF SUBSURFACE DRAINAGE SYSTEM DESIGN ON THE SOIL AND WATER MANAGEMENT

A field experiment was carried out to study the effect of drain depth on the drainage water quality and flax productivity. The flax crop was planted during winter season. The field experiment was conducted at the Bahteem Research Station, Qaliubiya Governorate, from November 2015 till April 2016. Two design systems were selected, the first was conventional drainage system (CDS), with drain depth 1.5 m, the second was modified drainage system (MDS), three lateral drain lines were installed to main drain directly. The depth of the lateral drain was (0.90 - 1.0) m.   The obtained results revealed that the salinity of the average soil profile decreased after the second irrigation onward. The soil salinity percentages of (MDS) decreased by (47, 30 and 9.5) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. On the other hand, soil salinity percentages of (CDS) decreased by (40, 32 and 9) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. The chloride percentages for average soil profile of (MDS) decreased by (77, 82 and 54) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. On the other hand, the chloride percentages of (CDS) decreased by (70, 75 and 35) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. The EC values of drainage water of (MDS) decreased from first irrigation onwards. The EC percentages of drainage water salinity of (MDS) decreased by (10.6, 18.2 and 22.7) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. On the other hand, the EC percentages of drainage water salinity of (CDS) decreased by (6.3, 5.6 and 24.6) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. The chloride percentages of drainage water  salinity of (MDS) decreased by (22.6, 43 and 14.2) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. On the other hand, the chloride percentages of (CDS) decreased by (14.7, 32 and 16.4) for (2nd, 3rd and 4th) irrigation, respectively. The piezometer reading showed that the water table levels reaching the soil surface upon irrigation reached low level before the next irrigation. The average values of water table after first irrigation were (14.5, 11 cm) for (MDS) and (29.5, 24 cm) for (CDS) for (L/4, L/2 distance from drain line), respectively. Also the results indicated that the water table level continue decreasing for both systems before 2nd and 3rd irrigation. The results recorded were (91, 82 cm), (140.5, 132 cm) before 2nd irrigation; (75.5, 60 cm), (133.5, 125 cm) before 3rd irrigation for (L/4, L/2 distance from drain line) for both systems (MDS) and (CDS), respectively. On the other hand data showed that the water table was higher after 2nd irrigation on ward. The results recorded were (16.5, 10 cm), (33.5, 25 cm) after 2nd irrigation; (7.5, 3 cm), (28, 21 cm) after 3rd irrigation for (L/4, L/2 distance from drain line) for both systems (MDS) and (CDS) respectively. So (MDS) produced drainage water with higher quality and lower salts concentration than the (CDS). At the end of the season the flax productivity was 3.5 ton/fed for both systems. It can be recommended to be used (MDS) with shallow drain depth