GIS-based approach for optimised collection of household waste in Mostaganem city (Western Algeria).

This work proposes an optimisation of municipal solid waste collection in terms of collection cost and polluting emissions (carbon oxides, carbon dioxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter). This method is based on a simultaneous optimisation of the vehicles routing (distance and time travelled) and the routing system for household wastes collection based on the existing network of containers, the capacity of vehicles and the quantities generated in every collecting point. The process of vehicle routing optimisation involves a geographical information system. This optimisation has enabled a reduction of travelled distances, collection time, fuel consumption and polluting emissions. Pertinent parameters affecting the fuel consumption have been utilised, such as the state of the road, the vehicles speed in the different paths, the vehicles load and collection frequencies. Several scenarios have been proposed. The results show the importance of the construction of a waste transfer station that can reduce the cost of household waste collection and emissions of waste transfer pollutants. Among the proposed five scenarios, we have noticed that the fourth scenario (by constructing a waste transfer centre) was the most performing. So, the routes of optimised travelled distance of the new circuits have been reduced by 71.81%. The fuel consumption has been reduced by 72.05% and the total cost of the collection has been reduced by 46.8%. For the polluting emissions, the reduction has been by 60.2% for carbon oxides, by 67.9% for carbon dioxides, by 74.2% for nitrogen oxides and by 65% for particulate matter.

[Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder: A single centre retrospective study]. / Carcinome neuroendocrine de la vessie: étude rétrospective monocentrique.

PURPOSE: Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is a rare tumour representing 0.5 to 1% of bladder tumours. It is a specific histological entity characterized by rapid metastatic dissemination and poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic modalities and the evolutive aspects of patients receiving a treatment for bladder neuroendocrine carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 2004 and January 2014, seven patients received a treatment for a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder, at the department of oncology, Habib-Bourguiba Hospital, in Sfax, Tunisia. RESULTS: The median age was 58 years. All patients were male. Neuroendocrine carcinoma was pure in four cases and associated with urothelial carcinoma in the other three cases. Two patients were diagnosed at a metastatic stage. A cystectomy was performed in two cases. One patient received a chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The other four patients received chemotherapy alone. A single case of complete remission was observed. Median survival was 15 months (5-30 months). One patient is still alive 30 months after diagnosis. CONCLUSION: The management of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the bladder is not standardized and requires a multidisciplinary consultation.