A Multi-Country Capacity Assessment of National Statistical Offices Preparedness to Report on SDG Indicator 1.4.2: Global status on land tenure security data collection, analysis and on comparable indicators in the SDGs

This report presents the results of the multi-country assessment carried out in 17 countries across the world. The findings of this assessment is expected to directly inform the work of the co-custodian agencies for land Indicator 1.4.2 (UN-Habitat and World Bank) in formulating a coherent capacity development strategy for NSOs at country level, and strengthen their collaboration with land agencies for enhanced data infrastructure needed to regularly report on this indicator. In addition, the findings will also inform capacity development initiatives for other custodians’ agencies working on land related indicators in the SDGs including 5.a.1; and the overall monitoring of tenure related issues in line with other land governance frameworks at global, regional levels and national levels

Global Land Indicator Initiative: Sourcebook for Operationalisation of Global Land Indicators

GLTN and the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Greenwich are pleased to share this sourcebook, as a working paper, to assist with the operationalisation of GLII indicators at the country level. This sourcebook provides material for developing a handbook for implementing the land indicators at country level. The aim of the sourcebook is to set out material for further development, discussion and compilation into one or more operational handbooks that provide guidance on the steps required and approaches that can be applied for national stakeholders and collaborating partners to establish practical arrangements for data gathering, analysis and reporting against a harmonised set of land indicators. These indicators have been broadly agreed amongst multilateral, governmental and civil society agencies and with the GLII stakeholder platform, and include headline indicators (including 1.4.2) now agreed and incorporated in the framework for implementing the globally agreed Sustainable Development Goals by the UN Statistical Commission (UNSC)

Shape memory characteristics of woven glass fibre fabric reinforced epoxy composite in flexure

Shape memory characteristics of a woven glass fibre (GF) fabric reinforced epoxy composite (reinforcement content: 38 vol.%) were assessed in three point bending mode in a dynamic-mechanical analysis device and compared to those of the parent epoxy resin (EP). From unconstrained tests the shape fixity and recovery ratios and the recovery rate, whereas from constrained tests the recovery stress were determined. The shape fixity and recovery rate decreased due to the GF reinforcement which had, however, no effect on the shape recovery. Major benefit of the woven GF fabric was that the recovery stress could be enhanced by two orders of magnitude in comparison to the neat EP. GF reinforcement was accompanied with a substantial decrease in the failure-free flexural deformability of the composite specimen

Private opportunities, public benefits? The scope for private finance to deliver low-carbon transport systems in Kigali, Rwanda

A significant portion of finance for a low-carbon transition is expected to come from private sources. This may be particularly the case in the transport sector, where there is a large private sector presence and substantial investment needs, and in low-income countries, where climate action is unlikely to be the first priority for public finances. However, it is unclear whether private finance can deliver the full range of actions that are needed for a low carbon transition, or what role the public sector can and should play to mobilise these resources. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, is one of many cities in lower and middle income countries seeking to break away from business-as-usual trajectories and pursue more sustainable forms of urban development. In this paper, the economic case for a large set of low carbon transport investments in Kigali, Rwanda, is analysed from the perspective of a private investor and from the perspective of the city as an economic unit drawing on a data and methods used in a city-wide review of low carbon study of Kigali conducted in 2015 by the Climate Smart Cities team at the University of Leeds. Comparing the public and private perspectives provides the opportunity to explore the financing mechanisms and policy frameworks appropriate for different kinds of low-carbon investment, and to consider how governments in developing countries can lay the foundations for compact, connected low-carbon cities

Health-industry linkages for local health: reframing policies for African health system strengthening

The benefits of local production of pharmaceuticals in Africa for local access to medicines and to effective treatment remain contested. There is scepticism among health systems experts internationally that production of pharmaceuticals in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) can provide competitive prices, quality and reliability of supply. Meanwhile low-income African populations continue to suffer poor access to a broad range of medicines, despite major international funding efforts. A current wave of pharmaceutical industry investment in SSA is associated with active African government promotion of pharmaceuticals as a key sector in industrialization strategies. We present evidence from interviews in 2013–15 and 2017 in East Africa that health system actors perceive these investments in local production as an opportunity to improve access to medicines and supplies. We then identify key policies that can ensure that local health systems benefit from the investments. We argue for a ‘local health’ policy perspective, framed by concepts of proximity and positionality, which works with local priorities and distinct policy time scales and identifies scope for incentive alignment to generate mutually beneficial health–industry linkages and strengthening of both sectors. We argue that this local health perspective represents a distinctive shift in policy framing: it is not necessarily in conflict with ‘global health’ frameworks but poses a challenge to some of its underlying assumptions

Endodontic Management of An Unusual Mandibular First Molar with Six Canals: A Case Report and Systematic Review

The permanent mandibular first molar is frequently involved in conventional root canal treatment due to its function and position in the oral cavity. Additional root canals mandate accurate diagnosis and conservative management to prevent any procedural errors. The first independent middle mesial canal incidence was verified in mandibular molars in 1974, with a global incidence of 10.8–27.0%. Reporting of the middle distal canal in the endodontic literature is scarce, with an incidence of 0.2–3%. The present case report describes the endodontic management of an unusual permanent mandibular first molar with three canals in the mesial and distal roots, diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis and apical periodontitis. A dental operating microscope and multiple angulated radiographs were used to identify the unusual morphology, and this was confirmed with cone-beam computed tomography imaging. The access cavity was modified to a trapezoidal shape, and the pulp chamber was carefully explored following root dentinal maps to expose additional canals by ultrasonic troughing. Incorporating a dental operating microscope and cone-beam computed tomography imaging in routine endodontic cases facilitates a better understanding and visualization of the complex root canal anatomy, making even the management of endodontically challenging cases more predictable

Effect of the Extent of Apical Enlargement on the Degree of Debridement of the Apical Third in Curved Root Canals

Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of various apical instrumentation sizes and tapers on the degree of debridement of the apical third of curved root canals. Methods: We used 60 extracted human mandibular first molars with mesial root curvatures of 20° to 30°. In all teeth, access cavity preparation was performed, followed by coronal flaring with Gates Glidden drills #1–4 (Dentsply Maillefer). Specimen teeth were subsequently randomly divided into five groups (n = 12). Each group was enlarged to a particular apical size and taper as follows: no apical preparation done (group I, Control group); 25/.04 and 25/.06 (Group II); 30/.04 and 30/.06 (group III); 35/.04 (group IV); 40/.04 (group V). Specimens were rinsed with 17% EDTA and 3% NaOCl solutions. We used a scanning electron microscope to evaluate specimens’ degree of debridement. Retrieved data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U-tests (p \u3c 0.05). Results: Acceptable debridement was observed in groups III, IV, and V. Additionally, debridement was significantly better in Groups IV and V than in group II. Conclusion: Apical preparation with \u3c30/.04 size results in an unacceptable degree of debridement of the apical third

A multi-regional input-output analysis of ozone precursor emissions embodied in Spanish international trade

Higher levels of ozone in the troposphere is a severe threat to both environment and human health. Many countries are concerned about the effects that critical levels of ozone have on them. Countries pollute to satisfy their domestic and external demand (production perspective) and, at the same time, these countries also generate emissions abroad indirectly via their imports and via their domestic production (consumption perspective). Spain is one of the EU countries with the highest pollution records in the emissions of tropospheric ozone precursor gases. A multiregional input-output model (MRIO) allows us to analyze the total emissions embodied in Spanish international trade in 35 sectors within the EU area and the rest of the world. MRIO models, are commonly chosen as they provide an appropriate methodological framework for complete emissions footprint estimates at the national and supranational level The results show that the most polluting sectors involved in Spanish trade are Agriculture, Basic Metals, Coke and Refined Petroleum Production. Some policy recommendations follow these results; for example, a higher number of environmental regulations focused on the Agricultural sector, such as the introduction of codes of good practices in the use of fertilizers and the promotion of cleaner production technologies might lead to less burden to the environment.Ministerio de economía y competitividad (España) ECO 2014-56399-R. Claves para Desacoplar Crecimiento y Emisiones de Co2 en EspañaCátedra de economía de la energía y del medio ambiente (Universidad de Sevilla)Fundación Roger TornéJunta de Andalucía. SEJ 13

A note on comonotonicity and positivity of the control components of decoupled quadratic FBSDE

In this small note we are concerned with the solution of Forward-Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (FBSDE) with drivers that grow quadratically in the control component (quadratic growth FBSDE or qgFBSDE). The main theorem is a comparison result that allows comparing componentwise the signs of the control processes of two different qgFBSDE. As a byproduct one obtains conditions that allow establishing the positivity of the control process.Comment: accepted for publicatio

An In Vitro SEM Study on the Effectiveness of Smear Layer Removal of Four Different Irrigations

Introduction The aim of this study was to compare the smear layer removal efficacies of 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), 17% Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), SmearClear and BioPure MTAD using a common irrigation protocol.Materials and Methods: Fifty freshly extracted human single rooted maxillary and mandibular teeth were prepared by a ProTaper rotary system up to an apical preparation file size F3. Prepared teeth were randomly divided into five groups (n=10); distilled water (Group A; negative control), EDTA (Group B), SmearClear (Group C), BioPure MTAD (Group D) and NaOCl (Group E). After final irrigation with tested irrigants the teeth were decoronated, split into two halves longitudinally and observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM) for removal of the smear layer. The SEM images were then analyzed for the amount of smear layer present using a three score system. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test.Results: Intergroup comparison of groups B, C, and D showed no statistical significant differences in the coronal and middle thirds, however, in the apical third the canal surfaces were cleaner in samples from group D (P<0.05).Conclusion: BioPure MTAD was the most effective agent for the purpose of smear layer removal in the apical third of the root canals