Intergovernmental cooperation for hydrometry – what, why and how?

Two thirds of hydrological observation networks in developing countries are reported to be in poor or declining condition. At the same time innovation in sensor technologies and data processing are presenting opportunities for enhancing observation networks that are not being realized. The World Meteorological Organization’s Global Hydrometry Support Facility, or WMO HydroHub, was launched in 2016 to transform assistance to operational water monitoring agencies around the world. If successful, the initiative will increase the amount of hydrometric data available to researchers, catchment managers and water policy makers. To those unfamiliar with UN organizations, however, the nature of such initiatives, the reasoning behind the decisions taken to establish them and the mechanisms by which they try to deliver benefits for society, can be opaque. This paper adopts a novel dialogue-style format to explore the set-up of the WMO HydroHub and build awareness amongst those who ultimately may benefit from its approaches

Comparison of Fluoroquinolones and Other Antibiotic Prophylaxis Regimens for Preventing Complications in Patients Undergoing Transrectal Prostate Biopsy

: Our study aimed to compare the incidence of infective complications after transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy (TRUSBx) when adopting different antimicrobial prophylaxis regimens. A multi-institutional cohort of 1150 patients who underwent TRUSBx was retrospectively analyzed. Procedures were performed between 2017 and 2019 (before and after the EMA warning about the use of fluoroquinolones for the antibiotic prophylaxis of patient candidates to TRUSBx). The primary endpoint was the occurrence of infective complications, including sepsis and/or fever. The population was stratified according to the antibiotic prophylaxis adopted: fluoroquinolones (levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, prulifloxacin), cephalosporins (cefixime, ceftriaxone) or trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Univariable and multivariable binomial logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) testing of the risk of infective complication after adjusting for each prebiopsy covariate. In total, 478 (41.6%) patients received fluoroquinolone-based prophylaxis. Among these, 443 (38.5%), 25 (2.2%) and 10 (0.9%) patients received levofloxacin prophylaxis, ciprofloxacin and prulifloxacin, respectively while 14.6% received cefixime, 20.7% received the comedication of ceftriaxone/fosfomycin and 23.1% received trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. The trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and fluoroquinolone regimens were significantly associated with a lower risk of infective complications (OR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.48, p = 0.003 and OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.06-0.43, p < 0.001, respectively). The ceftriaxone/fosfomycin (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.04-0.92, p = 0.04) and fluoroquinolone (OR 0.07, 95% CI 0.00-0.70, p = 0.048) prophylaxis were associated with a lower risk of infective sequelae. Fluoroquinolone-based prophylaxis was associated with a lower risk of infective complications after TRUSBx compared to other prophylaxis regimens although its clinical application was recently forbidden by European Medical Agency restrictions

D6.1: Technologies and Tools for Lexical Acquisition

This report describes the technologies and tools to be used for Lexical Acquisition in PANACEA. It includes descriptions of existing technologies and tools which can be built on and improved within PANACEA, as well as of new technologies and tools to be developed and integrated in PANACEA platform. The report also specifies the Lexical Resources to be produced. Four main areas of lexical acquisition are included: Subcategorization frames (SCFs), Selectional Preferences (SPs), Lexical-semantic Classes (LCs), for both nouns and verbs, and Multi-Word Expressions (MWEs)

Citizen science and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Traditional data sources are not sufficient for measuring the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. New and non-traditional sources of data are required. Citizen science is an emerging example of a non-traditional data source that is already making a contribution. In this Perspective, we present a roadmap that outlines how citizen science can be integrated into the formal Sustainable Development Goals reporting mechanisms. Success will require leadership from the United Nations, innovation from National Statistical Offices and focus from the citizen-science community to identify the indicators for which citizen science can make a real contribution

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Empowering citizen scientists to improve water quality: from monitoring to action

Citizen science (CS) has so far failed to achieve its potential to contribute to water resource management globally despite a significant body of work proclaiming the benefits of such an approach. Also, this work has addressed concerns over precision, accuracy and reliability of methods used. This article presents the findings of a hackathon-type workshop challenge that brought together water quality experts and CS practitioners to explore barriers and possible solutions to mainstream citizen scientist-generated data into national, regional, and global reporting processes, and thereby provide a tangible connection between policy makers and community-based citizen scientists. We present the findings here as a perspective-type summary. This workshop challenge highlighted the breadth and scope of CS activities globally yet recognized that their potential for positive impact is going unrealized. The challenge team proposed that impact could be improved by: developing awareness; applying a simultaneous bottom-up/top-down approach to increase success rates; that local leaders or ‘catalysts' are key to initiate and sustain activities; that generated data need to fulfill a purpose and create required information, and ultimately, lead to actions (data > information > action); recognizing that we are all potential citizen scientists is important; recognizing that “good water quality” is subjective; and lastly that developing a communication gateway that allows bi-directional data and information transfer is essential

Technologies and Tools for Lexical Acquisition

This report describes the technologies and tools to be used for Lexical Acquisition in PANACEA. It includes descriptions of existing technologies and tools which can be built on and improved within PANACEA, as well as of new technologies and tools to be developed and integrated in PANACEA. The report touches briefly on the criteria for evaluating the results of the tools and integration (but see D7.1 for a detailed description of the evaluation criteria). It also specifies the Lexical Resources to be produced

The United Nations world water development report 2019: leaving no one behind - Chapter 2: Physical and environmental dimensions

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development sets a series of ambitious challenges for the global community. These Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include targets for access to safe drinking water and sanitation and better water management, as well as goals for addressing inequality and discrimination, including the overarching aims of \u2018leaving no one behind\u2019 and \u2018reaching the furthest behind first\u2019. These are challenges that, to date, have proven difficult to meet, partly because they are complex, but also due to political inertia. The global context for this agenda may be characterized as \u2018crisis is the new normal\u2019, with political insecurity, social, economic and environmental challenges on a daunting scale. This calls for redoubled efforts and carefully selected approaches towards achieving transformative change.The issues underlying both water-related goals and leaving no one behind intersect in several ways. Both water supply and sanitation, and issues of equality for all people and for specific disadvantaged groups in particular, are recognized through international human rights instruments and agreements. However, these have not been enough to bring about the necessary changes. To some extent, the issues share both root causes and similar challenges. The same people who are being left behind are those who could benefit most from improved access to water and sanitation. Improved access to water and sanitation, water management and governance, and the multiple benefits they bring, can contribute significantly to positive transformation for marginalized people. Benefits include better health, savings in time and money, dignity, improved access to food and energy, and greater opportunities in terms of education, employment and livelihoods. These benefits, directly and indirectly, separately and in combination, contribute to improving the lives of all, but can be particularly transformative for people in vulnerable situations. At the same time, engaging with marginalized groups can enhance the achievement and sustainability of water-related goals. This process of engagement can also be transformative in giving a voice to those rarely heard, in turn creating space for vital water-related knowledge and experience that might otherwise be lost.As the sixth in a series of annual, thematic reports, the 2019 edition of the United Nations World Water Development Report (WWDR) examines how improved water resource management and access to water supply and sanitation services can help address the causes and alleviate the impacts of poverty and social inequity. It provides insights and guidance in helping identify \u2018who\u2019 is being left behind, and describes how existing frameworks and mandates, such as the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs and human rights-based approaches, can help \u2018reach the furthest first\u2019, through improved water management.The report assesses the issues and offers potential responses from technical, social, institutional and financial perspectives, while taking account of the many different challenges faced in rural and urban settings. With the world witnessing the highest levels of human displacement on record, an entire chapter has been dedicated to the exceptional challenges faced by refugees and forcibly displaced people with respect to water and sanitation. We have endeavoured to produce a balanced, fact-based and neutral account of the current state of knowledge, covering the most recent developments, and highlighting the challenges and opportunities provided by improved water management in the context of human development. Although primarily targeted at national-level decision-makers and water resources managers, as well as academics and the broader development community, we hope this report will also be well received by those interested in poverty alleviation, humanitarian crises, human rights and the 2030 Agenda.This latest edition of the WWDR is the result of a concerted effort between the Chapter Lead Agencies, FAO, OHCHR, UNDP, UNESCO-IHP, UN-Habitat, UNHCR, UNU-INWEH, UNU-FLORES, WWAP and the World Bank, with regional perspectives provided by UNECE, UNECLAC, UNESCAP and UNESCWA. The Report also benefited to a great extent from the inputs and contributions of several other UN-Water members and partners, as well as of dozens of scientists, professionals and NGOs, who provided a wide range of relevant material.On behalf of the WWAP Secretariat, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation to the afore-mentioned agencies, members and partners of UN-Water, and to the writers and other contributors for collectively producing this unique and authoritative report that will, hopefully, have multiple impacts worldwide. L\ue9o Heller, Special Rapporteur on the human rights to safe drinking water and sanitation, deserves specific recognition for having generously shared his knowledge and wisdom in the early critical phases of the report\u2019s production process.We are profoundly grateful to the Italian Government for funding the Programme and to the Regione Umbria for generously hosting the WWAP Secretariat in Villa La Colombella in Perugia. Their contributions have been instrumental to the production of the WWDR.Our special thanks go to Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, for her vital support to WWAP and the production of the WWDR. The guidance of Gilbert F. Houngbo, President of IFAD, as Chair of UN-Water has made this publication possible. Last but not least, we extend our most sincere gratitude to all our colleagues at the WWAP Secretariat for their professionalism and dedication, without whom the report would not have been completed