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In this paper, we analyzed a risk-sharing mechanism that can be used in urban bus public service contracts (PSC) to deal with demand uncertainty in the upcoming years. This mechanism is similar to a collar option: an MRG (Minimum Revenue Guarantee) combined with a revenue cap. We applied this mechanism to a case study, the Lisbon Metro Area bus contracts. We compared the chosen model (a gross cost contract) with a simulated scenario modeled as a collar option. To develop this scenario, we model the flexibilities applying Real options Analysis and the project uncertainty as a Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM). The calculations were performed using Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that, compared to the gross cost, the collar option model allows the private operator to benefit from a potential demand increase. In the case of a downturn, the loss is shared between the two sides, reducing the contract cost borne by the government. Furthermore, from a public policy perspective, contrary to the gross cost model, this model may incentivize the private partner to improve service quality as a strategy to increase demand and, consequently, revenues. In addition, if demand evolves in a different trend, the financial rebalance is made automatically, reducing litigation costs for both sides. • The application of real option analysis to bus public service contracts is still emerging. • Modelling risk-sharing in urban bus operations is crucial for maintaining the long-term financial sustainability. • The collar option model allows the private operator to benefit from a potential demand increase. • Contract financial rebalance is made automatically by exercising a collar option, reducing litigation costs for all parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In some finite clauses only one of the subjunctive and indicative moods might occur, while in others there is option between these two moods. This is the basic distinction between intensional and polarity subjunctive. This paper questions the sustainability of such division in Portuguese, providing a critical analysis of the major arguments sustaining that those two types of subjunctive need to be considered. Instead, it is shown that a semantic analysis of the indicative and subjunctive moods accounts for the distribution of these moods in European Portuguese (EP), no different explanations being needed for the cases of lexical selection and those of mood choice. In both cases Indicative signals that only p-worlds are taken in account, while Subjunctive signals the consideration of non-p worlds. This allows a comprehensive account of the EP data: Subjunctive or Indicative occurs depending on whether the meaning of the sentence leads to the consideration of non-p worlds or not. However, in other varieties of Portuguese, Indicative occurs in some sentences whose meaning involves the consideration of non-p worlds. Such is the case of Brazilian Portuguese (BP), where, in colloquial speech, the use of Indicative is common in complement clauses of querer ('to want'), a paradigmatic domain of Subjunctive. The conjecture is made that in this variety resorting to one or another mood is used as a pragmatic, discursive, strategy, even if the meaning of the sentence leads to the other mood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the changing paradigm of the State's functions and the increasing private sector participation in urban planning, public–private partnership (PPP) arrangements gain prominence in the development of cities, whether in the construction and operation of new infrastructures or in interventions in urbanized areas. Regarding urbanized areas, urban regeneration practices constitute an important response in the face of urban degradation observed in different cities, as well as an alternative to the consumption of new land. Despite their use in different contexts, the PPP option in urban regeneration projects encounters many obstacles related to high investment risk, low financial and social return, and the numerous sources of uncertainty generated by these projects. The present work consists of a systematic literature review of papers on PPP in urban regeneration projects, seeking to identify the main research topics addressed so far and what gaps can be identified. It uses a hybrid methodology considering a systematic quantitative review, a semantic analysis, and a narrative analysis. The findings show that the literature on the topic is recent and has been increasing in recent years, with emphasis on Europe, followed by North America and Asia. The literature presents a high variety in terms of journals, authors, and institutions. As for the methodology adopted in the articles, it highlights the use of quantitative methodologies. Five main topics were found: policy, projects, governance, financial and economic issues, and management and contract issues. The topics found show the complexity of PPPs in urban regeneration projects. The gaps observed refer mainly to financial and economic issues, as well as management and contract issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent regulatory framework reform implemented in Brazil aims to universalize water and sanitation services by 2033. For financing and speeding up the construction of infrastructure, the new law encourages private sector participation through auctions promoted with the support of the Brazilian National Development Bank. However, the first auctions, with billions of dollars in price and investment effects, have raised concerns among practitioners over the impact on vulnerable families. We analyze the concessions in Alagoas and Rio de Janeiro states in Brazil to demonstrate how low-income families will struggle to pay their bills based on auction prices via the tariff, which may invite discontent. This research can inform subsequent water and sanitation auctions by highlighting that awards should not be based exclusively on auction prices, and affordability assessments should be mandatory. • Auction price negatively impact water affordability. • Affordability analyses must be mandatory on pre-contractual studies in biddings. • Public tenders should implement post-auction evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Few studies in the literature address the success of enterprise Information Systems (IS) projects, namely focusing on how success is influenced by project management practices. This research studied the impact of ISO 21500/PMBOK processes on the success of IS projects, aiming to contribute to a better understanding of management practices importance in the context of this type of projects. Design/methodology/approach: An international survey was used to collect data, which was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: The results show higher levels of success than usually reported in the literature. Furthermore, this research shows that overall success is strongly influenced by ISO/PMBOK project management processes, thus reinforcing the relevance of competent project management to improve the results of IS projects. Originality: Focusing on the specific case of IS projects, this study shows that higher levels of success are achieved by organizations with higher project management maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adding bem (lit. 'well') to a modalized proposition, as in it is quite possible that he already left, increases the degree of conviction being conveyed. Apparently, this epistemic reinforcement that results from the presence of bem corresponds to the expression of a higher degree of belief than what is expressed without bem. Concretely, while é possível que p ('it is possible that p') indicates that p is a possibility, é bem possível que p ('it is quite possible that p') will indicate that p is a good possibility. If so, the meaning of constructions resulting from the addition of bem to a modalized proposition can be captured within the framework of modality analysis in Krazter (1991, a.o.), who considers different degrees of modality, including the notions of possibility and good possibility. This way, it will be understandable why bem can co-occur with weak modals, as the equivalents of possible or may, but not with strong modals, such as the equivalents of must or have to, since the latter already have a strong value, not being able to be reinforced by the addition of bem. However, there are counterarguments to this hypothesis, which, among other problems, does not explain why bem may co-occur with various types of modal operators or propositional attitude verbs that express a strong epistemic value, such as, e.g., certo ('right'), as in é bem certo! ('quite right!'), or to know, as in the equivalent of he knows well that he is late. Thus, two questions arise: (i) how to explain the epistemic reinforcement resulting from the addition of bem to a sentence with an epistemic modal operator? (ii) why can bem combine with some epistemic modal operators, but not with all of them? An alternative hypothesis is presented and explored, according to which bem does not contribute to the truth conditions of the sentence, but functions at the discursive level. Specifically, the proposed hypothesis is that the addition of bem to a modalized proposition indicates the expectation that this proposition will remain valid as discourse flows. That is, bem has the function of making the proposition in which it occurs persistent. Thus, the meaning of the constructions resulting from the addition of bem to a modalized sentence is best captured by an analysis of modality within dynamic semantics. In dynamic semantics, the meaning of a sentence is its Context Change Potential, its capability to update the information of the context (or information state) relative to which it is asserted. The proposed analysis provides an answer the two aforementioned questions. Epistemic reinforcement conveyed by bem corresponds to expressing the expectation that the modalized proposition will remain valid as discourse flows. The reason why bem can co-occur with some, but not all, epistemic operators is linked to the type of epistemic state described by each sentence. As predicted by the proposed hypothesis, bem cannot co-occur with modal operators expressing an inference that arises from particular information and that may not be maintained as new information is gathered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the refugee phenomenon is not new and refugee camps are rarely temporary, in most cases, the procedures implemented within refugee camps have failed to apply principles of sustainability to ensure refugees' dignity and improve their quality of life, thereby helping them become independent and self-reliant. This improvement, in turn, may help them return to their homes in the future or may, at least, reduce the high cost and negative coping strategies associated with refugee camps and instead increase refugees' social integration within the host community. This paper discusses the procedures applied in both the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan and the Dadaab Refugee Complex in Kenya and provides evidence regarding the extent to which they meet the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development without leaving refugees behind. Furthermore, this paper shows how sustainable development goals (SDGs) are interconnected in a refugee camp setting. This study concludes that refugee camps not only failed to align with 2030 agenda but failed to ensure refugees' basic rights where a more inclusive and sustainable approach is required to improve the refugees' quality of life and to help them live in dignity and reach self-reliance that can benefit both refugees and their host communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Programming is one of the basic skills that students must acquire. However, learning to program is not an easy task. Also teaching programming is an arduous but challenging task, requiring close follow‐up and constant and meaningful feedback. So the main question is: how can we help teachers and students to achieve these goals? We identified a tool that can be useful to this purpose. That is Virtual Programming Lab (VPL), a Moodle plugin that allows students to submit their code and get prompt feedback without the teacher's intervention. In order to test this concept, an experiment was performed with several classes of beginner programming students, in two editions of Algorithms and Programming course unit of the degree in Informatics Engineering lectured at the Informatics Engineering Department at the School of Engineering, Polytechnic Institute of Porto. The students were challenged to test their assignments in VPL with a set of test values previously defined by the teachers. After the experiments, we used surveys to gather the involved students' and teachers' opinion, and more than 70% of the students answered that they considered the VPL an added value for the teaching–learning process. The dynamics verified in the classes, the general opinion of the teachers, and the acceptance and participation of the students allow to classify the experience as positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Uncertainty exists regarding comparative effectiveness of cetuximab versus bevacizumab in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We conducted a retrospective head-to-head multi-cohort study comparing clinical outcomes from both antibodies Methods: Cohorts were defined by treatment line and subgroups by (K)RAS status and tumour sidedness. Among other outcomes, we estimated and compared response rates, progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Results: Between January 2010 and April 2018, 311 patients were included. Except for (K)RAS mutation status, baseline characteristics were balanced across treatment groups. In the full analysis of first and second-line cohorts, PFS (first-line: HR = 0.85; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.13; P = 0.26; second-line: HR = 1.16; 95% CI 0.74 to 1.83; P = 0.51) and OS (first-line: HR = 0.83; 95% CI 0.61 to 1.15; P = 0.26; second-line: HR = 0.88; 95% CI 0.56 to 1.38; P = 0.58) were similar between bevacizumab and cetuximab arms. In subgroup analyses of first-line therapy, we found a survival difference favouring bevacizumab in right-sided tumours (PFS: HR = 0.52; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.93; P = 0.025; OS: HR = 0.60; 95% CI 0.32 to 1.12; P = 0.11), but not in left-sided (HR = 1.04; 95% CI 0.75 to 1.46; P = 0.81; OS: HR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.65 to 1.36; P = 0.74), or (K)RAS wild-type tumours (PFS: HR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.60 to 1.40; P = 0.67; OS: HR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.50 to 1.25; P = 0.31). Response rates were similar across treatment groups, except for the subgroup of patients bearing right-sided primaries, where bevacizumab performed substantially better. Conclusion: This study provides evidence suggesting bevacizumab and cetuximab lead to similar effectiveness outcomes in mCRC, except for right-sided tumours, where cetuximab seemed to show considerably poorer outcomes. Further research is needed to confirm these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the importance of analyzing the efficiency of water utilities and the large number of publications in this area, at least five reviews have already been carried out to identify patterns and trends. These reviews aimed to cover worldwide studies, and the results may not correspond to the reality in developing countries. Therefore, this review provides a literature update on the quantitative studies of water and sanitation services, focusing on studies carried out in developing countries. This overview mainly examines the economies of scale and scope, public versus private ownership, and the impact of regulation. As expected, our results show patterns that differ from those found in worldwide reviews (e.g., the influence of regulatory incentives on operator efficiency and economies of scope). In addition, this paper presents patterns regarding the quantitative methods adopted, as well as some trends and areas for possible future research. • Economies of scale have been found. • There was a tendency of private operators to exhibit better performance. • Regulatory incentives have not promoted performance improvement. • There is a trend in the use of panel data to overcome the restriction of data availability. • Universalization of access and water losses should be addressed in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CM has potential for use in Europe but design rules in Eurocode 6 are not suitable. • A comprehensive review of approaches on structural behaviour of CM walls is made. • Contribution of materials to vertical resistance is evaluated and a formula proposed. • Shear and flexural behaviours are reviewed and the available models are compared. • Detailing requirements in design are revised for implementation in a structural code. Confined masonry (CM) has been adopted as a cost-effective and earthquake-resistant solution for buildings, mostly in developing countries. CM has large potential for use in Europe, but suitable rules for its application are not available in the European masonry code. This paper presents a critical review of theoretical approaches and experimental investigations on the structural behaviour of CM walls, along with the proposal of simple but suitable design rules. The behaviour to vertical compression and to in-plane shear and bending loadings are comprehensively reviewed with reference to existing studies. Concerning the vertical compressive behaviour, the contribution of each material to the vertical resistance is evaluated and a formulation is proposed. The existing theories for the shear and flexural behaviours are reviewed and the available and new proposed models are compared against experimental results. Finally, requirements for detailing of CM are reviewed from international design codes, in view to propose suitable rules for implementation in a structural code. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the acquisition of mood in early complement clauses of European Portuguese (EP). Two semantic features are involved in the EP mood system—epistemicity and veridicality. An elicited production task administered to 80 children aged 4 to 9 showed that, even though children use the subjunctive in [– epistemic] contexts, the selection of a subjunctive complement is especially troublesome under [+ epistemic; – veridical] predicates. A corpus analysis, meant to characterize the input to which children are exposed, showed that this pattern of mood distribution is not entirely explained by verb frequency or by mood variability in the input. We argue that children go through a stage in which they are not able to map mood morphology to the required sum of features and give priority to epistemicity only. Thus, while in early stages the [+/– epistemic] contrast influences mood choices, the [+/– veridic] contrast (particularly in epistemic contexts) does not. Despite that, we provide new evidence that children rely on the relevant semantic features throughout the process of mood acquisition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a method to assess the quality of local governance practices. The multicriteria decision analysis modeling approach is illustrated through a real application (Portuguese municipalities). To define the criteria, performance descriptors, and reference levels in each dimension of local governance, and to account for the differences in preference of scoring in each criterion, the judgments of legitimate stakeholders were considered through decision conferencing. The constructed "Municipal Governance Indicator" is calculated for the case of Lisbon to show the outputs of the model and its potential usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Uncertainty exists regarding Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with cetuximab or bevacizumab. We conducted a prospective cohort study comparing PROs and HRQoL from both therapies. Methods: We assessed PROs and HRQoL from patients treated with cetuximab or bevacizumab using QLQ-C30 and QLQ-CR29 questionnaires at three sequential time points, including baseline. Global Health Status (GHS), functional and symptom scales, and Overall Treatment Utility (derived from clinical and patient-reported outcomes) were compared for the two treatment strategies. Results: Between January 2017 and April 2018, 44 patients were allocated to cetuximab (n = 19) or bevacizumab (n = 25). Except for RAS mutation status, patient baseline characteristics were generally well balanced across treatment groups. A higher proportion of patients experienced a deterioration in GHS (≥ 10%) in cetuximab arm − 53.8% (95% CI 25.1–80.8%) at 6 weeks and 66.7% (95% CI 29.9–92.5%) at 12 weeks—comparing to bevacizumab cohort: 18.2% (95% CI 5.2–40.3%) at 6 weeks and 12.5% (95% CI:1.6–38.3%) at 12 weeks. Treatment utility rates at 6 and 12 weeks were, respectively, 88.6% and 69.8% for bevacizumab, compared to 49% and 19.1% for cetuximab (p = 0.004), a difference confirmed in subset analyses. Conclusions: In patients with mCRC, cetuximab-containing regimens led to a progressive negative impact on PROs and global HRQoL, when compared to baseline and bevacizumab. Future research is needed to confirm these results. Our findings demonstrate the value of PROs when assessing comparative effectiveness of different treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Waste management policy effectiveness evaluation is important to understand whether the results achieved correspond to the policy goals, as well as to identify obstacles and outline strategies for its implementation. Although this type of study has been done in developed countries, little research on has been done on this topic in developing countries, mainly due to lack of data. This paper aims to assess the effectiveness of the Brazilian solid waste policy (PNRS). A case study methodology has been applied to Brazil in which a solid waste policy was implanted and a database is available. An empirical statistical analysis over panel data was carried out to evaluate whether the municipal waste management key performance indicators improved or not. The findings suggest that the PNRS has not accomplished the desired changes in municipal waste management, particularly no significant upgrading was observed in the indicators studied: municipal waste generation, frequency of waste collection, rate of recyclable waste recovered, and proportion of sanitary landfills. Furthermore, the paper concludes with lessons learnt and supports the identification of constraints and strategies that can be extrapolated to other developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the role of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) for predicting response to neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) in pancreatic cancer. Materials and methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases were searched for studies evaluating the performance of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) to assess response to NAT. Data extracted included ADC pre- and post-NAT, for predicting response as defined by imaging, histopathology, or clinical reference standards. ADC values were compared with standardized mean differences. Risk of bias was assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Studies (QUADAS-2). Results: Of 337 studies, 7 were included in the analysis (161 patients). ADC values reported for the pre- and post-NAT assessments overlapped between responders and non-responders. One study reported inability of ADC increase after NAT for distinguishing responders and non-responders. A correlation with histopathological response was reported for pre- and post-NAT ADC in 4 studies. DWI's diagnostic performance was reported to be high in three studies, with a 91.6–100% sensitivity and 62.5–94.7% specificity. Finally, heterogeneity and high risk of bias were identified across studies, affecting the domains of patient selection, index test, reference standard, and flow and timing. Conclusion: DWI might be useful for determining response to NAT in pancreatic cancer. However, there are still too few studies on this matter, which are also heterogeneous and at high risk for bias. Further studies with standardized procedures for data acquisition and accurate reference standards are needed. Clinical relevance statement: Diffusion-weighted MRI might be useful for assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer. However, further studies with robust data are needed to provide specific recommendations for clinical practice. Key Points: •The role of DWI with ADC measurements for assessing response to neoadjuvant therapy in pancreatic cancer is still unclear. •Pre- and post-neoadjuvant therapy ADC values overlap between responders and non-responders. •DWI has a reported high diagnostic performance for determining response when using histopathological or clinical reference standards; however, studies are still few and at high risk for bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although allowing unsolicited proposals continues to be a topic of policy discussion, inexplicably the academic literature lacks information on it. This unique paper can therefore contribute by discussing the ways in which this approach is used to procure public‒private partnership (PPP) projects. Most countries allow this type of procurement model, and many encourage it. Therefore, it is crucial that governments are endowed with well-established procurement frameworks that enable them to overcome the infrastructure gap while simultaneously providing value for money. For this purpose, unsolicited proposals are analyzed in three different countries ‒ Brazil, Korea and the USA ‒ which have implemented PPP projects with this procurement model, using different frameworks. Lessons are drawn, and recommendations are made to improve the current status quo. This procurement option can indeed be useful and valuable, but should be utilized with caution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • We assess the relevance of thirteen exogenous variables on European seaports' performance. • We integrate the Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis with the order-α model. • Seaports' location or management model have no central role on seaports' efficiency. • The efficiency of seaports does not depend on features like local richness, and performance indicators. Abstract Maritime transport is hugely important for the modern global economy. The increasing development of economic globalization has led to a considerable increase in intercontinental exchanges, stimulating the use of ports and shipping companies with a cheap and quick way to reach most of Europe, Asia, Africa or North America. This study aims to assess the relevance of thirteen exogenous variables, including GDP per capita, water depth, management model, and European directional division, on the performance of the seaports using the nonparametric robust output-oriented order-α model. The study also integrates the Stochastic multicriteria acceptability analysis with the order-α model to handle with cases of imperfect knowledge. This problem is not unusual in nonparametric benchmarking exercises and can have very serious effects on performance outcomes. Our findings suggest that none of the thirteen explanatory variables (either external or performance indicator) has a meaningful association with seaports' technical efficiency. This means that the efficiency of resources usage to deliver port services does not depend on features like localization, management model, local richness, and some performance indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a study on the techno-economic efficiency of seismic strengthening techniques for old residential buildings, with application to construction typologies in Lisbon (stone masonry and “Placa” buildings). A comprehensive review on strengthening techniques and implications for the seismic behavior is made. Different strengthening schemes are implicitly simulated within equivalent frame models of the representative buildings. Then, pushover analysis is applied in order to compare the seismic performance of the buildings, before and after strengthening. A cost-benefit analysis of the strengthening solutions is finally performed, comparing the economic benefit gained by reducing the seismic damage, against the intervention cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste management and other services of general economic interest are normally out of market. Therefore, regulation may be required to provide sustainable services with the desired quality of service at affordable and fair prices. Some countries have created regulatory authorities to supervise service levels and tariffs. However, the implementation of such entities is still a novelty being relevant to open the discussion about the explicit regulation of the waste sector. This study addresses the waste sector in Portugal and the regulator’s role in setting prices and providing proper incentives to ensure efficiency and added value. In this context, regulation was proposed to implement a tariff setting mechanism based on a productivity-related X factor linked to revenue caps. This innovative application (in the waste sector) calculates the X factor through a catch-up factor (static efficiency determined by Data Envelopment Analysis) and a production technology change or frontier shift (dynamic efficiency calculated by a Törnqvist index). Besides targeting the financial sustainability of waste utilities, there is also a focus to achieve reasonable environmental and quality of service standards. This study argues that economic regulation is required for this sector since it can be prone to the quiet life and inefficiency due to market failures and lack of incentives. Thus, a tariff setting system may be important and, perhaps, unavoidable to prevent these misbehaviors. The results highlight several predicaments and opportunities related to the application of this innovative performance-based approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a method to evaluate regulatory governance. For this purpose, we develop a novel multicriteria decision analysis modeling approach. Performance criteria were organized into key dimensions and descriptors were constructed for each of the criteria. Reference regulator profiles were developed for scoring and comparison purposes. The subjective judgment of experts was incorporated in the modeling process. The “Regulatory Governance Scorecard” is calculated for the Portuguese regulatory agencies to illustrate the model outputs and demonstrate its potential usefulness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts are common in the construction industry. The characteristics of public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements make them prone to conflicts, some of which are acute and jeopardize the success of the project. Because litigation is time-consuming and costly, an alternative dispute resolution (ADR) might be a viable substitute for court action. Among the different types of ADRs, arbitration assumes prominence not only because of its extensive use, particularly as the last attempt before litigation, but also because the results of arbitration are attributable to rules, applied according to a contract and the discretion of arbitrators, for which appeal is seldom allowed. Therefore, although the idea of arbitration suggests a beneficial resolution, the public interest, proportionality, and fairness are not always ensured. Through an empirical case study, the sound features of arbitration are presented as are cautions to consider when adopting the ADR strategy of arbitration. Undue use of arbitration can become perverse. In particular, the public partner should avoid arbitration by endowing the contract with good governance practices and by compulsorily trying other types of ADR first. Moreover, the contract should stipulate that continuous information and knowledge about the project are provided to the public sector. Finally, the right to appeal should always be allowed even if the decision is allowed to stand to avoid stopping a project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the water and sanitation procedures taken in refugee camps to provide inclusive services, preserve the environment, and design out waste, based on empirical data collected using a questionnaire distributed in Iraq, Jordan, and Lebanon. Our study finds that refugees in Lebanon were the furthest left behind compared to refugees in Jordan and Iraq. Moreover, considering the culture of refugees, installing quality WASH services, and shifting from the traditional linear approach to the circular economy approach is an advantage in refugee camps that creates more resilience opportunities for refugees and their hosts. Without the concrete Partnership between governmental institutions, NGOs, and stakeholders, SDG6 and other related ones, including SDG3, SDG4 SDG5 and SDG8 will not be accomplished by 2030. • Zaatari camp achieved a sustainable WASH model. • WASH services provided in Domiz 2 camp present good practice in the emergency phase. • WASH services provided in refugee camps in Lebanon are unsustainable. • Syrian refugees in Lebanon are further left behind compared to refugees in Iraq and Jordan. • Targets 6.1 and 6.2 are recommended to be segregated by refugees and other vulnerable groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycled water has posed new challenges for conventional water supply and wastewater provision models, as it interconnects different related services. The reclaimed water sector faces the arduous task of setting specific pricing policies since rules for potable water and wastewater charges may not be appropriate for it. This article addresses a review of current challenges in pricing policies for recycled water based on case studies available worldwide, highlighting the most common tariff structures in use and the principles applied, providing a guideline for recycled water pricing based on the barriers, drivers, and practices found around the global experiences and academic literature. The results show that different tariff structures are adopted based on local socioeconomic factors and water authorities' objectives. We conclude that the local environmental conditions, the institutional arrangement, technical and economic specificities are influence factors that decision-makers should consider when setting recycled water charges. • Diverse tariff structures are adopted according to local socioeconomic factors and water authorities' objectives. • There is no consensus on price setting for recycled water. • Environment, regulatory framework, technical and economic specificities are influence factors for recycled water projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prosperity and social progress of developed and developing economies is highly dependent on the existence of efficient transport infrastructure. Nevertheless, current budgetary constraints are jeopardizing the necessary investments in new or existing infrastructure. New models for planning and managing infrastructure are now necessary to overcome the lack of public economic resources available. Port infrastructure is no exception and, due to the vast number of uncertainties involving these projects, it is relevant to maximize the capture of the latent value of flexible options. Incorporating flexibility in these projects, prior to the implementation phase, can be a solution that allows port managers to address future uncertainties and mitigate risk exposure. This paper analyzes the incorporation of flexibility in port planning through the use of an American call option to the physical capacity expansion problem. The rationale is to implement a flexible expansion plan, through options that can be exercised at any given time, that are able to deal with uncertainty in demand. The paper uses a case study – Terminal Container of Ferrol, in Spain – and the results support the hypothesis that imbedded flexibility will robustly increase the net present value of the project. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Regulation of public utilities and infrastructure is being generalized worldwide. However, when there are public-private partnership arrangements, it is assumed that the contract signed by the parties is adequate to protect the public interest, and therefore, external regulation is not necessary. Even though explicit regulation also has its shortcomings, we disagree with the preconceived idea that contracts alone always protect the public interest. Contracts avoid the discretion left to regulators, but they are imperfect and incomplete. Therefore, we defend the need for regulation and posit that it should be combined with a contract, resulting in a game of positive sum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncertainty exists regarding the comparative effectiveness of triplet chemotherapy (FOLFOXIRI) as backbone first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) comparing triplet versus doublet chemotherapy (FOLFOX or FOLFIRI) as first-line therapy in mCRC. Methods and reporting followed PRISMA and SAMPL guidelines. Eight RCTs were included, comprising 1732 patients. In pooled analysis, FOLFOXIRI was associated with improvements in efficacy outcomes, notably with a 25% survival increase (95%CI: 10–37%). FOLFOXIRI was also associated with increased toxicity, with a non-significant 25% increase in the risk of patients experiencing grade ≥3 adverse events (95% CI: −3 to 61%) and with a 1.83 (95% CI: 1.62–2.07) increase in the rate ratio of grade ≥3 adverse events. Moderate quality evidence suggests that first-line FOLFOXIRI provides clinically meaningful efficacy benefits in this setting, at the expense of increased toxicity. Further research is warranted to better characterize safety and to evaluate the most beneficial combination with targeted agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the empirical literature on methodologies applied to measure irrigation efficiency. Evaluating production unit efficiency is important for strategic purposes (comparison between production units), for planning purposes (evaluation of the use of different combinations of factors) and for decision making (to improve current performance, by analysing the differences between current and potential production). We found more than thirty studies using deterministic and stochastic methods for measuring efficiency. These studies intended to measure efficiency and study its determinants and to compute efficiency as a tool for benchmarking or only estimating efficiency. Several methodologies were used, although the most popular technique adopted was data envelopment analysis (DEA). The DEA method is frequently combined with a second-stage analysis to better understand the source of inefficiency. Several conclusions were drawn and discussed in this document. Of the thirty-two studies analysed, 87.5% determined efficiency using deterministic methods. Of these, the most frequently used methodology was DEA. These studies led to the conclusion that in general, farms are considerably inefficient with respect to water use, and some factors can contribute to its improvement, such as agricultural training, good crop choice, adoption of an extension advice service, not fragmenting the land or having larger farm sizes, a high education level, installing localized irrigation, being owners-operators and having access to better credit opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of good governance is praised by many academics and practitioners. The prominence of the subject suggests that measurement is important. However, setting out to measure the quality of governance empirically is controversial. Doubts regarding the feasibility and meaningfulness of this undertaking are widespread in the literature. Recognizing the potential caveats, the current article discusses a set of guidelines for structuring a theoretically sound local governance assessment tool based on the Decision Analysis and Operational Research literatures. The authors argue that using a multi-criteria model which employs several objective (quantitative and qualitative) indicators and relies on a participatory method to aggregate them is a suitable way of developing sensible Local Governance Indicators. The purpose here is to provide a detailed roadmap for any country (or region, or locality) willing to engage in the assessment of the quality of local governance. The real-world implementation of a model developed according to these guidelines could help raise awareness, promote good practices and increase the ‘governance literacy’ of citizens. By operationalizing good governance, analysts may also be able to further investigate the relationships between local governance practices and several socio-economic factors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Health systems are complex organisations that attempt to deliver health services to meet the needs of the population. Regardless of the degree of access to and quality of those health services, the systems' sustainability has been the object of special attention by governments worldwide. To ensure their adequate functioning in light of the accountable and transparent facets of New Public Governance, one must resort to regulatory mechanisms, such as sunshine regulation. By publicly displaying the results of benchmarking assessments, sunshine regulation "embarrasses" operators with poor performances in an effort to force them to correct such divergences. Thus, in this paper, we propose a sunshine regulatory model to the public hospitals in Portugal using multi-criteria decision analysis. In particular, we created a five-star rating that categorises those operators according to their performances, by means of the outranking method electre tri-nc. As a result, we provide evidence of the existence of a majority of providers assigned to the 'Average' category of "Three stars" and the nonexistence of providers with unique extreme category assignments ("One star" or "Five stars"), both of which are supported by extensive stability and robustness analyses, and discussed in terms of policy implications for relevant stakeholders. • Proposal of a sunshine regulatory model to the public hospitals in Portugal. • Five-star rating considering all dimensions of healthcare assessments. • Unique application of ELECTRE Tri-nC to sunshine regulation in healthcare. • Majority of providers assigned to the average category of "Three stars". • Public-private partnerships were the best performers ("Four stars"). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to search for economies of size and scope in the Portuguese water sector applying Bayesian and classical statistics to make inference in stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). This study proves the usefulness and advantages of the application of Bayesian statistics for making inference in SFA over traditional SFA which just uses classical statistics. The resulting Bayesian methods allow overcoming some problems that arise in the application of the traditional SFA, such as the bias in small samples and skewness of residuals. In the present case study of the water sector in Portugal, these Bayesian methods provide more plausible and acceptable results. Based on the results obtained we found that there are important economies of output density, economies of size, economies of vertical integration and economies of scope in the Portuguese water sector, pointing out to the huge advantages in undertaking mergers by joining the retail and wholesale components and by joining the drinking water and wastewater services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Performance indicators (PIs) are essential in the benchmarking process used to rate and rank water companies. However, a set of individual PIs does not provide a holistic assessment of company performance from multiple perspectives. A multidimensional evaluation of the performance of water companies can be achieved by aggregating the PIs into a synthetic indicator. Although the concept of sustainability involves economic, environmental and social criteria, most of the previous studies have not considered these three dimensions simultaneously. This paper discusses a process of indicator aggregation using two approaches based on multi-criteria decision analysis to evaluate and compare the sustainability of water companies from a holistic perspective. A synthetic indicator embracing economic, environmental and social PIs was computed for a sample of 154 Portuguese water companies. Both methods yielded similar rankings of water company sustainability. The techniques and results presented in this paper may be utilized as a means of improving the benchmarking process in regulated water industries, as well as providing valuable contributions to decision-makers on the most efficient steps for improving the sustainability of urban water services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of non-compliant masonry buildings often depends on adequate reinforcement measures, expecting detailed structural assessment and reinforcement using proper techniques. Structural assessment of masonry buildings with poor building practices is a key issue in hilly regions in general that requires prompt attention. This paper addresses the seismic assessment of code-deficient unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings and their strengthened counterparts using a confined masonry (CM) structure, located in a hilly region in seismic zone IV of India. By estimating stress parameters, the seismic behavior of the buildings has been evaluated with the help of SAP2000 software and identified corresponding deficient elements of the structures. Intent of the present research is to explore the scope of improvement in structural safety of URM, taking CM as a better alternative focused to hilly areas. For this analysis linear static and dynamic methods have been used being a usual method for the analysis of seismic effects. Analysis reveals that tensile and shear stresses exceed the permissible limits (IS code- 1905:1989) at all floors in case of URM construction for height 9 m ( G + 3 ) which is within limit as all floors for a building of 15 m ( G + 5 ) in case of CM construction. In this case stresses (tensile and shear) exceed on ground floor only which needs to safe guard as the time of design. A overall, CM structure is found a better alternative for constructing moderate rise building in hilly areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on public cooperation usually focus on its impact on the service costs experienced by service providers. However, engagement in public cooperation in service provision often seeks other outcomes, like service coverage (measured by the population served) rather than simply minimizing service expenditure. Moreover, public cooperation by local governments, as either 'providers' or owners, generates transaction costs arising from negotiation, monitoring, agency costs and the enforcement of cooperative agreements. However, to date, little empirical effort has been directed at determining the impact of transaction costs on service provision owners and service outcomes. This paper addresses this gap in the empirical literature by examining the relationship between cooperative agreements between Brazilian municipalities for water and wastewater provision and service coverage in the light of transaction costs. We find that transaction costs are higher for cooperative providers due primarily to low service coverage levels, especially in sewage services that demand high investment in assets with high specificity. However, lower expenditures may occur after initial up-front investment. • Public cooperation by local governments - as either 'providers' or owners - generates transaction costs. • This paper compares the total spending and service coverage through public cooperation and 'stand-alone' local councils. • Intermunicipal cooperation through Regional Consortia in Brazil has been selected for analysis. • We find that transaction costs are higher for cooperative providers due primarily to low service coverage levels. • Decreasing expenditure may occur after the initial up-front investment on asset specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of archaeological heritage is of major importance for preserving the scientific, ethnographic and artistic values of past cultures. Once archaeological sites are exposed after being buried for centuries, they are subjected to natural hazards, which should be studied with up-to-date techniques. Moreover, conservation works are primarily focused on aesthetic aspects or on solving localized problems. In earthquake-prone areas, it is of extreme importance to carry out structural analysis studies for assessing the actual behaviour of archaeological constructions, and for proposing adequate intervention measures. This paper presents an extensive study on structural behaviour of archaeological building remains in Peru, based on in-situ non-destructive testing as well as on numerical approaches. The case of the Chokepukio Archaeological Site is presented, which was built between 1000 and 1450 AD in the Pre-Columbian era, with a mixed masonry of stone units and earthen mortar. The paper begins with a comprehensive description of the historical, architectural and structural aspects of the archaeological site. The possibility of applying operational modal analysis tests is then explored with reference to a representative wall of Chokepukio. The results of the experimental field campaign are used to develop calibrated finite element models of the wall, and to indirectly estimate mechanical characteristics of the masonry. Basing on the investigations performed, potential failure mechanisms are identified for the wall and validated by pushover analysis. Finally, the mechanisms are evaluated through kinematic limit analysis, to proceed with the seismic assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first part of this work, the effect of the thickener content on the rheological behavior of polymer greases was investigated. The aim of this part II is to show the correlation between these greases’ rheology and its formulation, regarding the co-thickener content. Even though the greases were formulated with the same base oil, the co-thickener content and nature clearly influence the bleed-oil viscosity and the greases’ mechanical stability, allowing us to control the oil bleeding rate. Therefore, analyzing the rheology of these polymer greases, this study aims to bring some light on the base oil vs bleed-oil viscosity approach at high shear rate and the effect on the properties of the active lubricant in the EHD contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneity must be considered in the efficiency analysis of decision-making units; otherwise, the results will be strongly biased. This is also valid for airport management where the operational environment heavily influences efficiency. In this paper, conditional efficiency measures are applied to airports to incorporate heterogeneity in non-parametric frontier models which are robust for outlying observations. In particular, the influence of the operational environment on airport efficiency is examined in a sample of 141 international airports. The conclusions show that the operational environment indeed matters and that privatisation, regulation, traffic transfer and the dominant carrier have a positive effect on efficiency, whereas aeronautical revenues influence it negatively. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Portugal, in the early twenty first century, the water utilities industry was still quite complex displaying considerable financial shortcomings. That issue occurred, mainly, at the retail level due to faulty rate setting practices, stressing, perhaps, arbitrariness and political influence in price-setting strategies. To cope with that situation, the water sector regulator published tariff guidelines to harmonize cost analyses, tariff structures and levels, creating a basis for comparison. The suggestion of two-part tariffs with increasing block rates seems to lack enough flexibility and proper supporting material. Thus, our analysis focuses on assessing whether the recommendations issued are able to achieve the proposed objectives through the suggested procedures, reviewing the structure proposed and possible adjustments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the world, rising demand for municipal solid waste services has seen an ongoing increase in the costs of providing these services. Moreover, municipal waste services have typically been provided through natural or legal monopolies, where few incentives exist to reduce costs. It is thus vital to examine empirically the cost structure of these services in order to develop effective public policies which can make these services more cost efficient. Accordingly, this paper considers economies of size and economies of output density in the municipal waste collection sector in the New South Wales (NSW) local government system in an effort to identify the optimal size of utilities from the perspective of cost efficiency. Our results show that – as presently constituted – NSW municipal waste services are not efficient in terms of costs, thereby demonstrating that ‘bigger is not better.’ The optimal size of waste utilities is estimated to fall in the range 12,000–20,000 inhabitants. However, significant economies of output density for unsorted (residual) municipal waste collection and recycling waste collection were found, which means it is advantageous to increase the amount of waste collected, but maintaining constant the number of customers and the intervention area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contrary to the usual method of most studies that apply parametric methodologies, the current study does not assume a priori a functional form to represent the cost function. Instead, a large number of functional forms are tested in order to find the most appropriate functional form for the true cost structure of utilities. The sample focuses on water utilities operating in Portugal during the period 2002–2008. The results show that there are substantial economies of output density, economies of size, and economies of scope (in the joint supply of water supply and wastewater services) and, therefore, there are huge advantages in utilities merging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the differences between three methods of classification of recurrences in patients with head and neck tumours treated with Radiation Therapy (RT). Materials and methods: 367 patients with head and neck tumours were included in the study. Tumour recurrences were delineated in the CT images taken during patient follow-up and deformable registration was used to transfer this volume into the planning CT. The methods used to classify recurrences were: method CTV quantified the intersection volume between the recurrence and the Clinical Target Volume (CTV); method TV quantified the intersection between the Treated Volume and the recurrence (for method CTV and TV, recurrences were classified in-field if more than 95% of their volume were inside the volume of interest, marginal if the intersection was between 20-95% and outfield otherwise); and method COM was based on the position of the Centre Of Mass of the recurrence. A dose assessment in the recurrence volume was also made. Results: The 2-year Kaplan-Meier locoregional recurrence incidence was 10%. Tumour recurrences occurred in 22 patients in a mean time of 16.5 ± 9.4 months resulting in 28 recurrence volumes. The percentage of in-field recurrences for methods CTV, TV and COM was 7%, 43% and 50%, respectively. Agreement between the three methods in characterizing individually in-field and marginal recurrences was found only in six cases. Methods CTV and COM agreed in 14. The percentage of outfield recurrences was 29% using all methods. For local recurrences (in-field or marginal to gross disease) the average difference between the prescribed dose and D98% in the recurrence volume was -5.2 ± 3.5% (range: -10.1%-0.9%). Conclusions: The classification of in-field and marginal recurrences is very dependent on the method used to characterize recurrences. Using methods TV and COM the largest percentage of tumour recurrences occurred in-field in tissues irradiated with high doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing awareness of what appears to be a looming global water crisis, where the human rights of millions of people are being jeopardized and billions of US dollars are being wasted due to poor water governance, calls for a holistic discussion of these critical issues. This special issue of Utilities Policy on ‘Redrafting Water Governance’ aims to be a stepping stone toward an improved approach to water governance, by gathering different perspectives and insights from different stakeholders (e.g. regulators, water utilities, and customers) and disciplines (from law to engineering). The output will certainly facilitate a process for devising more effective approaches to water governance at a time when they are especially needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of urban transport services entails several challenges. Past research has been concerned with economic (e.g., tariff setting and financial sustainability), technological (e.g., different modes or energy sources), social (e.g., the impact of public transportation on social cohesion), and even institutional or policy issues (e.g., privatization). However, few studies focus on governance issues or on the scrutiny of the contractual relations between the competent authorities (local governments) and the operators. The current paper attempts to address this gap in the literature. The objective is to assess the rationale behind each governance structure and the quality of contracting procedures. To accomplish this, the authors consider the Portuguese regulatory framework and analyze six contracts signed between the local governments and the operators, corresponding to three different governance models: municipal companies, mixed companies, and concessionary companies. All cases present serious governance problems, especially regarding the initial decision-making process, the access to the market of private investors, and the clear definition of objectives monitored through output-oriented indicators. The case-study analysis shows that municipal companies are prone to being politically steered, and the complex web of contracts of mixed companies fails to protect the public interest. Although the contract design lacks development, in concessions the conflicts of interest are attenuated and the roles of the public and private partners are better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A framework to evaluate the performance municipalities is suggested. [•] ‘Governance’ is added to the TBL perspectives to assess local sustainability. [•] An illustrative municipal scorecard is applied to Lisbon, Portugal. [•] Innovative performance descriptors are provided to operationalize the criteria. [•] The scorecards may help to align the goals of governments with the goals of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]