A new approach to implementing decentralized wastewater treatment concepts.

Planners and decision-makers in the wastewater sector are often confronted with the problem of identifying adequate development strategies and most suitable finance schemes for decentralized wastewater infrastructure. This paper research has focused on providing an approach in support of such decision-making. It is based on basic principles that stand for an integrated perspective towards sustainable wastewater management. We operationalize these principles by means of a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach 'Assessment of Local Lowest-Cost Wastewater Solutions'--ALLOWS. The main product of ALLOWS is the identification of cost-effective local wastewater management solutions for any given demographic and physical context. By using universally available input data the tool allows decision-makers to compare different wastewater solutions for any given wastewater situation. This paper introduces the ALLOWS-GIS tool. Its application and functionality are illustrated by assessing different wastewater solutions for two neighboring communities in rural Jordan.

Survival of Endodontically Treated Roots/Teeth Based on Periapical Health and Retention: A 10-year Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this retrospective longitudinal cohort study was to evaluate the outcome of nonsurgical root canal treatment (NSRCT), expressed as survival for both periapical health and retention of roots/teeth, as determined by clinical evaluation, periapical film/digital radiography (PFR/DPR), and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) over 10 years, to determine the prognostic factors that influenced successful treatment outcomes. METHODS: A total of 132 teeth (208 roots) with vital pulp received NSRCT at a university clinic. Eighteen factors (preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative) were documented from the dental records and radiographs. Periapical indices with scores ≥2 (PFR/DPR) and ≥1 (CBCT) indicated the presence of a periapical lesion. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier test and the Cox proportional hazards regression model (P < .05). RESULTS: The estimated 10-year overall survival rates for periapical health of roots/teeth were 89.4%/88.6% with PFR, 89.4%/89.3% with DPR, and 72.6%/69.7% with CBCT; the survival rate for root/tooth retention was 90.4%/91.6%. CONCLUSIONS: The long-term outcome of NSRCT expressed as survival for periapical health was different with each radiographic method. Approximately more than 90% of the roots/teeth were retained for up to 10 years. The prognostic factors for periapical health were the disinfection of gutta-percha, missed canals, age, treatment sessions, and density of root filling (voids); the age and presence of a post were for root/tooth retention.

In situ synchrotron radiation X-ray scattering study on the effect of a stearic sucrose ester on polymorphic behavior of a new sunflower oil variety.

The effect of the stearic sucrose ester (SE) S-170 on crystallization behavior and polymorphism of two stearins obtained from a new variety of high stearic high oleic sunflower oil was studied by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (p-NMR), small (SAXS) and wide (WAXS) angle X-ray scattering using synchrotron light and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). p-NMR studies showed that there is always a crystallization temperature below which SE S-170 accelerated crystallization and above which SE S-170 delayed nucleation and growth. The effect of SE S-170 strongly depended on supercooling. It was efficient as a seed for high supercooling (low crystallization temperatures) but this efficiency diminished at low supercooling (temperatures close to the melting point) when few crystals were formed. SAXS and WAXS results demonstrated that depending on crystallization temperature SE S-170 promoted crystallization of α and ß forms with more polymorphic similarity and inhibited occurrence of ß' forms especially the ß'2 polymorph. However, in some conditions SE S-170 favored crystallization of ß'1 polymorph. DSC experiments showed that SE S-170 significantly diminished total melting enthalpies when the effect was a delay in crystallization. For other conditions no significant differences were found in melting temperatures or total melting enthalpies. When stearins were stored at 25°C, crystallization in the ß2 form was promoted. Depending on crystallization temperature, polymorphic forms ß'1 and ß2 may be obtained as the main polymorphic forms. This is very relevant from the technological point of view. Depending on the application, SE S-170 may help obtain the required polymorphic form: ß'1 form for spreads and ß2 polymorph for chocolate production.