Guidance on noncorticosteroid systemic immunomodulatory therapy in noninfectious uveitis: fundamentals of care for uveitis (focus) initiative

Topic: An international, expert-led consensus initiative to develop systematic, evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of noninfectious uveitis in the era of biologics. Clinical Relevance: The availability of biologic agents for the treatment of human eye disease has altered practice patterns for the management of noninfectious uveitis. Current guidelines are insufficient to assure optimal use of noncorticosteroid systemic immunomodulatory agents. Methods: An international expert steering committee comprising 9 uveitis specialists (including both ophthalmologists and rheumatologists) identified clinical questions and, together with 6 bibliographic fellows trained in uveitis, conducted a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses protocol systematic reviewof the literature (English language studies from January 1996 through June 2016; Medline [OVID], the Central Cochrane library, EMBASE,CINAHL,SCOPUS,BIOSIS, andWeb of Science). Publications included randomized controlled trials, prospective and retrospective studies with sufficient follow-up, case series with 15 cases or more, peer-reviewed articles, and hand-searched conference abstracts from key conferences. The proposed statements were circulated among 130 international uveitis experts for review.Atotal of 44 globally representativegroupmembersmet in late 2016 to refine these guidelines using a modified Delphi technique and assigned Oxford levels of evidence. Results: In total, 10 questions were addressed resulting in 21 evidence-based guidance statements covering the following topics: when to start noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory therapy, including both biologic and nonbiologic agents; what data to collect before treatment; when to modify or withdraw treatment; how to select agents based on individual efficacy and safety profiles; and evidence in specific uveitic conditions. Shared decision-making, communication among providers and safety monitoring also were addressed as part of the recommendations. Pharmacoeconomic considerations were not addressed. Conclusions: Consensus guidelines were developed based on published literature, expert opinion, and practical experience to bridge the gap between clinical needs and medical evidence to support the treatment of patients with noninfectious uveitis with noncorticosteroid immunomodulatory agents

Two-phase wake-mixing layer flow past a splitter plate: an experimental investigation

The wake-mixing layer flow developing past a splitter plate separating two parallel gas and liquid co-flowing currents is experimentally investigated in this work. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) measurements of the two-phase velocity field are simultaneously performed in gas and liquid streams, shedding light on both mean (time-averaged) and unsteady features of the flow configuration. A selected reference case is first analyzed, revealing the presence of a wake region within the flow field, right behind the splitter plate. By progressively moving downstream along the streamwise direction, a pure mixing layer region is retrieved. The effect of two governing flow parameters, namely the gas Reynolds number and the gas-liquid dynamic pressure ratio, is then investigated, focusing first on the mean flow topology. It is found that the streamwise extension of the wake is a monotonic decreasing function of the Reynolds number, and it vanishes for the highest value considered, the two-phase flow resulting in a pure mixing layer regime. The flow unsteady dynamics is then characterized by means of the spectral analysis of normal-to-flow velocity fluctuating quantities, performed in both gas and liquid flows. As major results, it is found that frequency spectra are characterized by a high frequency content in the low Reynolds configuration, the peak frequency depending on the streamwise location. On the other hand, by progressively increasing the Reynolds number the peak frequency shifts to lower values, and it becomes independent on the specific spatial location by increasing the dynamic pressure ratio. It is found that, at high Reynolds and dynamic pressure ratio values, velocity fluctuations are characterized by low frequency temporal oscillations synchronized over a large spatial extent of the flow field. The different regimes outlined by variation of the flow governing parameters are found to be consistent with convective/absolute instability behaviors highlighted by spatio-temporal linear stability analyses of the flow recently presented in literature.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Aerodynamic

Situation and behavioural analysis of consume and waste behaviour and patterns

D3.2 aims at analysing the existing literature on tourism and waste behaviour of tourists. Based on this literature review and with the aim of filling the knowledge gap about waste behaviour of tourists, URBANWASTE has developed and circulated 3 surveys for 3 different categories: waste workers, tourismworkers and tourists. The surveys have been circulated among the 11 pilots of the project and the results of this survey has been analysed within this Deliverable.OLD Urban and Regional Developmen

Effectiveness of BMP-2 and PDGF-BB Adsorption onto a Collagen/Collagen-Magnesium-Hydroxyapatite Scaffold in Weight-Bearing and Non-Weight-Bearing Osteochondral Defect Bone Repair: In Vitro, Ex Vivo and In Vivo Evaluation

Despite promising clinical results in osteochondral defect repair, a recently developed bi-layered collagen/collagen-magnesium-hydroxyapatite scaffold has demonstrated less optimal subchondral bone repair. This study aimed to improve the bone repair potential of this scaffold by adsorbing bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and/or platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) onto said scaffold. The in vitro release kinetics of BMP-2/PDGF-BB demonstrated that PDGF-BB was burst released from the collagen-only layer, whereas BMP-2 was largely retained in both layers. Cell ingrowth was enhanced by BMP-2/PDFG-BB in a bovine osteochondral defect ex vivo model. In an in vivo semi-orthotopic athymic mouse model, adding BMP-2 or PDGF-BB increased tissue repair after four weeks. After eight weeks, most defects were filled with bone tissue. To further investigate the promising effect of BMP-2, a caprine bilateral stifle osteochondral defect model was used where defects were created in weight-bearing femoral condyle and non-weight-bearing trochlear groove locations. After six months, the adsorption of BMP-2 resulted in significantly less bone repair compared with scaffold-only in the femoral condyle defects and a trend to more bone repair in the trochlear groove. Overall, the adsorption of BMP-2 onto a Col/Col-Mg-HAp scaffold reduced bone formation in weight-bearing osteochondral defects, but not in non-weight-bearing osteochondral defects.Biomaterials & Tissue Biomechanic

Urban strategies for Waste Management in Tourist Cities. D2.7: Compendium of waste management practices in pilot cities and best practices in touristic cities

This report (Deliverable D2.7) refers to URBANWASTE Work Package 2, Task 2.8. Under this Task the current waste prevention and management practices in the URBANWASTE pilot cases are investigated and best practices coming from the EU context (focussing on touristic processes) are identified. This document shall support the selection of innovative strategies to be carried out within Work Package WP 4. A comparative policy review of national waste management strategies and targets in the European Union (EU) showed that there is no separate field of policies and instruments for waste generated by tourism neither on European level nor on the national level of EU member states.The identified waste prevention and management strategies already existing in the URBANWASTE pilot cities as well as international best practice examples can be allocated to well‐known policy instruments mainly based on information and awareness building as well as provision of infrastructure (e.g. bins for separate collection of food waste). But also regulatory instruments (e.g. ban of plastic bags), economic instruments and voluntary agreements (e.g. use of returnable containers) could be identified.Both, existing waste management and prevention practices in pilot cities as well as international best practices focus on nutrition of tourists. Most measures deal with food waste prevention as well as food waste management. The low‐waste organisation of events and the promotion of re‐use activities were also identified to be promising topics to reduce tourist waste generation. The promotion of resource consciousness in procurement amongst tourist accommodation establishments as well as food and beverage providers for tourists is another positive example identified.Most identified international best practice examples connected to tourist waste management refer to eco labelling and connected guidelines. The hotel industry can considerably reduce their waste generation by implementing and following a waste management system. One interesting knowledge gained from international best practice examples is the recommendation to elaborate an extended inventory of waste types and sources as first step for waste prevention measures.OLD Urban and Regional Developmen

Towards Better Territorial Governance in Europe; A guide for practitioners, policy and decision makers; Applied Research 2013/1/21 ESPON TANGO WP 3.1 | Version 30/11/2013

OTBArchitecture and The Built Environmen

Towards better territorial governance in Europe; a guide for practitioners, policy and decision makers based on contributions from the ESPON TANGO Project

Guides help you do things. You turn to them when you need to find out how to solve a problem. They are a form of knowledge transfer, written by experts but in a way that is accessible and helpful to a wide group of users. This Guide was written by the researchers on the ESPON applied research study of Territorial Approaches to New Governance (TANGO). It aims to help those persons and institutions that are delivering territorial governance across Europe. Who is the guide for? This guide is targeted at three groups of potential users. These are: \u95 Practitioners, i.e. private or public professionals that are engaged in territorial governance activities at different scales and/or cohesion policy programmes or projects in Europe. \u95 Policy makers, i.e. public executives and officials in charge of territorial governance at various administrative levels. They may also have the responsibility to implement cohesion policy at the EU level (e.g. officials of the European Commission) or at national, regional and local levels in the Member States. Plans, programmes and projects are their main means of delivering territorial governance. \u95 Decision?makers who are mostly democratically elected politicians, such as members of the EU Parliament, national parliaments, or regional and municipal councils. However, they may also include persons appointed as representatives to bodies with decision?making powers, e.g. community representatives in partnerships for regional development. They are often in charge of ministerial or departmental roles related to territorial governance and to cohesion policy. Through their democratic mandate or a high?level appointment, they are the ones that can establish rules on territorial governance. However, the essence of governance is that it extends beyond governments, engaging a potentially wide range of stakeholders and non?governmental institutions. We hope the Guide can be useful to them, too. Why is a guide needed? Effective partnership working across different scales is recognised as essential for Europe’s cohesion and economic recovery. The Common Strategic Framework for cohesion policy 2014-2020 seeks much better integration of policies, and a more rigorous focus on achieving desired outcomes. In other words, better governance is fundamental to achieving the goals of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Integration and partnerships need a territorial dimension if they are to deliver the desired synergies. Box 1 more fully explains why territorial governance has become an increasing concern within Europe.OTB ResearchArchitecture and The Built Environmen

ESPON TANGO: Territorial Approaches for New Governance. Applied Research 2013/1/21, Scientific Report Version 20/12/2013

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ESPON TANGO: Territorial Approaches for New Governance. Applied Research 2013/1/21, Final Report Version 20/12/2013

OTBArchitecture and The Built Environmen