Proceedings of the ACEWATER2 Scientific Workshop Accra (Ghana) 31 Oct – 3 Nov 2016

The African Centers of Excellence on Water (ACEWATER2) project, in its second phase (2016/19), promoted by the African Ministers of Water and financed by DG DEVCO, aims at supporting the establishment of Human Capacity Development Programme of the AMCOW (African Ministers’ Council on Water) in the Water Sector, strengthens institutional networking and improving research support to policy making by scaling up the approach of the pilot phase (phase I). The main activities of the project consist in: • Strengthening of two existing NEPAD water Centers of Excellence networks in West and Southern Africa; • Expanding the NEPAD water Centres of Excellence network to Central and Eastern Africa; • Strengthening institutional networking and improving research support to policy making in the water sector; • Supporting the implementation of the African Water Ministers’ declaration urging AUC and NEPAD Centers of Excellence to develop a “Human Capacity Development Programme for junior professional and technician level capacity challenges in the water sector”; • Developing an Atlas on Regional Water Cooperation. The project geographical scope covers three major regions: Southern Africa (7 countries), Western Africa (4 countries) and Eastern/Central Africa. The project is implemented by DG JRC (overall project management and scientific cluster) with UNESCO (human capacity development cluster). Within this project, a Workshop has been organized in Accra (Ghana) from October 31st to November 3rd, specifically devoted to the sharing among CoEs of scientific interests, competences and methods towards the effective planning of (scientific) activities, achievement and delivery of scientific tools and products to support (science-based) decision making processes. By means of scientific as well as technical presentations, round tables and participative sessions, the participants (35 people representing more than 30 Institutions among Universities, Research Centres, River Basin Authorities, Regional Economic Communities and key stakeholders on water issues, further to European research Institutions as CIRAD and CREAF) shared valuable experiences and competences, including case studies, around key thematic pillars, such as: Climate Issues (Session 1), African Water-Energy-Food nexus (Session 2), Groundwater (Session 3) and Water Governance&Diplomacy (Session 4). Workshop Proceedings gather all relevant contributions in the form of (extended) abstracts and short papers, providing a general overview of key relevant issues and partners scientific interests, turning to be a valuable resource for effective planning of next project steps.JRC.D.2-Water and Marine Resource

Summary of the Proceedings of the AquaKnow E-conference on Knowledge Management for Technical Cooperation in the Water Sector in Developing Countries

In the framework of the EC project called ¿AquaKnow¿ an e-conference was organised on knowledge management for technical cooperation in the water sector in developing countries. The e-conference was organised by DG AIDCO and DG JRC and was held in June 2008. The chairman of the conference was Dr. Jay Bhagwan, Director of the Water Use and Waste Management in the Water Research Commission in South Africa. Some 145 participants from 67 organisations active in the water sector in Africa, in Europe and in Latina America participated to this e-conference. The organisations were public, private, NGOs, research and high education institutions, etc... This e-conference was an unique event to bring together an important amount of field experiences in treating the knowledge related to the water sector in the context of technical cooperation oriented to capacity building in developing countries. This technical report resumes the many ideas put on the table and extracts some of the conclusions that were used in the design and development of the Aqua know Content Management System developed by the Water4Dev team of the IES institute of the DG JRC of the European Commission.JRC.DDG.H.3-Global environement monitorin

Correlación de la escala internacional de síntomas prostáticos y el score visual de síntomas prostáticos en la gravedad clínica de pacientes con hiperplasia benigna de próstata del Hospital Belén de Trujillo, 2021

Analizar la correlación entre la escala internacional de síntomas prostáticos (EISP) y el score visual de síntomas prostáticos (SVSP) en la evaluación de la gravedad clínica de pacientes con hiperplasia benigna de próstata (HBP). Método: Estudio observacional, analítico, transversal, correlacional en donde se aplicó la EISP y el SVSP a 100 pacientes mayores de 45 años con síntomas del tracto urinario bajo y diagnóstico de HBP atendidos en urología del Hospital Belén de Trujillo durante el 2021. La correlación se medió mediante R de Pearson. Resultados: Los puntajes totales entre ambas escalas presentan alta correlación positiva (r=0.866, p<0.001), de manera similar se evidenció adecuada correlación para las dimensiones de frecuencia urinaria (r=0.799, p<0.001), nicturia (r=0.854, p<0.001), flujo de chorro (r=0.751, p<0.001) y calidad de vida (r=0.737, p<0.001). El tiempo para responder la EISP fue significativamente superior al tiempo que toma responder el SVSP (p=0.001). Finalmente, se observó mayor necesidad de ayuda para responder la EISP en pacientes con menor nivel de instrucción (p=0.032). Conclusión: La EISP y el SVSP tiene alta correlación en la evaluación de la gravedad clínica en pacientes con hiperplasia benigna de próstata del Hospital Belén De Trujillo, 2021.To analyze the correlation between the international scale of prostatic symptoms (EISP) and the visual score of prostatic symptoms (SVSP) in the evaluation of the clinical severity of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Method: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional, correlational study where the EISP and SVSP were applied to 100 patients over 45 years of age with lower urinary tract symptoms and a diagnosis of BPH treated in urology at Hospital Belén de Trujillo during 2021. The correlation was measured using Pearson's R. Results: The total scores between both scales present a high positive correlation (r=0.866, p<0.001), similarly an adequate correlation was evidenced for the dimensions of urinary frequency (r=0.799, p<0.001), nocturia (r=0.854, p<0.001), jet flow (r=0.751, p<0.001) and quality of life (r=0.737, p<0 .001). The time to answer the EISP was significantly higher than the time it takes to answer the SVSP (p=0.001). Finally, a greater need for help to answer the EISP was observed in patients with a lower level of education (p=0.032). Conclusion: The EISP and the SVSP have a high correlation in the evaluation of clinical severity in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia at Hospital Belén De Trujillo, 2021.Tesi

Bayesian networks modelling in support to cross-cutting analysis of water supply and sanitation in developing countries

Despite the efforts made towards the Millennium Goals targets during the last decade, access to improved Water Supply or basic Sanitation remains still not accessible for millions of people across the World. This paper proposes a set of models that use 25 key variables from the WatSan4Dev dataset and country profiles involving Water Supply and Sanitation (Dondeynaz et al 2012). This paper proposes the use of Bayesian Network modelling methods because adapted to the management of non-normal distribution, and integrate a qualitative approach for data analysis. They also offer the advantage to integrate preliminary knowledge into the probabilistic models. The statistical performance of the proposed models ranges between 80 and 95% which is very satisfactory taking into account the strong heterogeneity of variables. Probabilistic scenarios run from the models allow a quantification of the relationships between human development, external support, governance aspects, economic activities and Water Supply and Sanitation (WSS) access. According to models proposed in this paper, a strong poverty reduction will induce an increment of the WSS access equal to 75-76% through: 1) the organisation of on-going urbanisation process to avoid slums development; and, 2) the improvement of health care for instance for children. On one side, improving governance, such as institutional efficiency, capacities to make and apply rules or control of corruption will also have a positive impact on WSS sustainable development. The first condition for an increment of the WSS access remains of course an improvement of the economic development with an increment of household income. Moreover, a significant country environmental commitment associated with civil society freedom of expression constitutes a favourable environment for sustainable WSS services delivery. Intensive agriculture through irrigation practises also appears as a mean for sustainable WSS thanks to multi-uses and complementarities. Strong and structured agriculture sector facilitates rural development in areas where WSS access often steps behind compared to urban areas . External financial support, named Official Development Aid (ODA), plays a role in WSS improvement but comes last in the sensitivity analyses of models. This aid supports first poor countries at 47%, and is associated to governance aspects: 1) political stability and 2) country environmental commitment and civil society degree of freedom. These governance aspects constitute a good framework for aid implementation in recipient countries. Modelling is run with the five groups of countries as defined in Dondeynaz et al 2012. Models for profile 4 (essential external support) and profile 5 (primary material consumption) are specifically detailed and analysed in this paper. For countries in profile 4, to fight against water scarcity and desertification pressure should be the priority. However, for countries in profile 5, efforts should first concentrate on political stability consolidation while supporting economic activity diversification. Nevertheless, for both profiles, reduction of poverty should remain the first priority as previously indicated.JRC.H.1-Water Resource

Diseño e implementación de un sistema de control y monitoreo de manejo de lotes para los procesos de: almacenaje, transporte y despacho de materias primas en los predios de una planta de elaboración de cerveza

El sistema de manejo de granos constituye la primera fase en el proceso de elaboración de cerveza y desempeña un papel muy importante en la dosificación de materias primas. El siguiente articulo presenta la implementación de un sistema de control capaz de manejar los procesos de recepción, transporte, almacenaje y despacho de dos tipos de productos: arroz y malta (cebada malteada), este último utilizado en diferentes variedades. Se considera el control de lotes y dosificación de materias primas con la utilización de un software de manejo de recetas de producción para lo cual se diseña un nuevo modelo de proceso que incluye sus respectivas: unidades, fases y variables de operación. Para el monitoreo y control del proceso se implementa un sistema SCADA (Sistema de control y adquisición de datos) instalado en varios computadores. El control lógico de rutinas de funcionamiento se programa en un PLC principal que integra varios módulos remotos de adquisición de señales mediante la utilización de una red industrial Profibus DP

What should a researcher first read? A bi-relational citation networks model for strategical heuristic reading and scientific discovery

[EN] Scientists usually try to find relevant and updated documents for their research. Also, they face an abundance of information. Most of the methodologies and algorithms look Backwards, so they suffer an inevitable time delay. We propose a recommendation algorithm combining Forward and Backward citation entire networks and Macro, Meso and Micro metrics that concludes in a strategic map and a heuristic reading path. Underlying it, we found an asymmetric bowtie scientific advance model that informs all, solving the abundance problem with a triple reduction and a heuristic reading path.Moreno Pascual, C.; Martínez De Ibarreta Zorita, C. (2018). What should a researcher first read? A bi-relational citation networks model for strategical heuristic reading and scientific discovery. En 2nd International Conference on Advanced Reserach Methods and Analytics (CARMA 2018). Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 209-219. https://doi.org/10.4995/CARMA2018.2018.8357OCS20921

The role of time scale in the spreading of asymmetrically interacting diseases

Diseases and other contagion phenomena in nature and society can interact asymmetrically, such that one can benefit from the other, which in turn impairs the first, in analogy with predator-prey systems. Here, we consider two models for interacting disease-like dynamics with asymmetric interactions and different associated time scales. Using rate equations for homogeneously mixed populations, we show that the stationary prevalences and phase diagrams of each model behave differently with respect to variations of the relative time scales. We also characterize in detail the regime where transient oscillations are observed, a pattern that is inherent to asymmetrical interactions but often ignored in the literature. Our results contribute to a better understanding of disease dynamics in particular, and interacting processes in general, and could provide interesting insights for real-world applications, most notably, the interplay between the dynamics of fact-checked and fake news.Comment: 11 pages and 8 figure