A group decision-making tool for the application of membrane technologies in different water reuse scenarios.

A global challenge of increasing concern is diminishing fresh water resources. A growing practice in many communities to supplement diminishing fresh water availability has been the reuse of water. Novel methods of treating polluted waters, such as membrane assisted technologies, have recently been developed and successfully implemented in many places. Given the diversity of membrane assisted technologies available, the current challenge is how to select a reliable alternative among numerous technologies for appropriate water reuse. In this research, a fuzzy logic based multi-criteria, group decision making tool has been developed. This tool has been employed in the selection of appropriate membrane treatment technologies for several non-potable and potable reuse scenarios. Robust criteria, covering technical, environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects, were selected, while 10 different membrane assisted technologies were assessed in the tool. The results show this approach capable of facilitating systematic and rigorous analysis in the comparison and selection of membrane assisted technologies for advanced wastewater treatment and reuse.

Anatomical variations in sinus imaging in sinusitis: a case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To compare anatomical variations in sinusitis patients and control subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We reviewed and compared the computed tomography (CT) scans of 87 sinusitis patients after adequate medical treatment and scans of 103 healthy subjects. All images were scored for sinusitis severity using the Lund-Mackay scoring system. Anatomical variations such as septal deviation, concha bullosa, presence of the Haller's cell, paradoxical middle turbinate, prominent agger nasi cell, and Onodi cell were also recorded. RESULTS: Of the 190 evaluated CT images, 55.2% of the cases and 47.6% of the controls had septal deviation (p > 0.05). The prevalence of concha bullosa was 68% in patients and 61% in controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in the evaluated anatomical variations between cases and controls in this study. Mucosal inflammation may play a more essential role than anatomical variation in the development of sinusitis.