Arab countries are primarily situated in arid environments and face serious water scarcity challenges due to growing populations, urbanization, and climate change impacts. Reusing greywater, if adequately treated at the point of generation, poses less human health risk as compared to blackwater reuse. Consumers have several reasons for being unwilling to reuse greywater, including potential health risk, religious and cultural concerns, and feeling uncomfortable. There are several possible reuse applications of treated greywater, such as watering plants, floor cleaning, landscaping, toilet flushing, etc. Therefore, it is important to assess consumer perceptions about greywater reuse before its implementation in any region. In this research, a framework based on greywater reuse indicators (GWRI) was developed to assess consumer perceptions before and after introducing low-cost treatment (LCT). Later the framework was implemented for Muscat, Oman. A questionnaire survey was carried out with 110 households located in diverse socioeconomic settings to collect data about general demographics, existing water uses, water sources, greywater applications (after LCT), and in-house plumbing systems. Seven key GWRI were estimated and aggregated to develop an overall consumer perception index (CPI). The study results revealed that CPI improved significantly from 'very low' to 'high' after introducing LCT. However, governments should provide financial assistance to consumers for improving in-house plumbing systems, based on detailed investigations. The study revealed that the CPI can be applied across the globe and can save time and effort for municipal managers, engineers, and policy makers by providing information that will enable effective decision-making.

Juvenile Neolamarckia cadamba or kelempayan tree has been harvested from forest plantation and converted into sawn timber. Some basic properties of timber such as physical and mechanical were determined from different parts of the tree namely lower, center and upper. The physical properties were evaluated. The mechanical properties were conducted using small test clear specimens. The results indicated that the physical and mechanical properties of the lower portion of the trunk were significantly superior compared to the upper portion of the trunk. The investigation revealed that the wood be able to use as a substitute material of the furniture components after some modification undertaken on its properties.

PROBLEM: Field trials require extensive data preparation and complex logistics. The use of personal digital assistants (PDAs) can bypass many of the traditional steps that are necessary in a paper-based data entry system. APPROACH: We programmed, designed and supervised the use of PDAs for a large survey enumeration and mass vaccination campaign. LOCAL SETTING: The project was implemented in Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania. Zanzibar is composed of two main islands, Unguja and Pemba, where outbreaks of cholera have been reported since the 1970s. RELEVANT CHANCES: PDAs allowed us to digitize information at the initial point of contact with the respondents. Immediate response by the system in case of error helped ensure the quality and reliability of the data. PDAs provided quick data summaries that allowed subsequent research activities to be implemented in a timely fashion. LESSONS LEARNT: Portability, immediate recording and linking of information enhanced structure data collection in our study. PDAs could be more useful than paper-based systems for data collection in the field, especially in impoverished settings in developing countries.

PROBLEMA: Los ensayos sobre el terreno exigen una amplia preparación de los datos y una logística compleja. Los asistentes personales digitales (PDA) permiten sortear muchas de las medidas tradicionales que requieren los métodos de anotación de datos en papel. ENFOQUE: Procedimos a programar, diseñar y supervisar el uso de PDA para el trabajo de enumeración de una gran encuesta y la posterior campaña de vacunación masiva. CONTEXTO LOCAL: El proyecto se llevó a cabo en Zanzíbar, en la República Unida de Tanzanía. El territorio de Zanzíbar se reparte fundamentalmente en dos islas, Unguja y Pemba, en las que se vienen notificando brotes de cólera desde los años setenta. CAMBIOS DESTACABLES: Los PDA nos permitieron digitalizar la información en el punto inicial de contacto con los encuestados. La respuesta inmediata del sistema en caso de error nos ayudó a reunir datos de mayor calidad y fiabilidad. Los PDA generaban resúmenes rápidos de los datos que permitían emprender nuevas actividades de investigación en el momento oportuno. ENSEÑANZAS EXTRAÍDAS: La transportabilidad, la inmediatez del registro y la vinculación de la información mejoraron la recopilación de datos estructurados en nuestro estudio. Los PDA pueden ser más útiles que los sistemas basados en papel para reunir datos sobre el terreno, especialmente en los entornos empobrecidos de los países en desarrollo.

PROBLÉMATIQUE: Les essais sur le terrain exigent des opérations de préparation des données de grande ampleur et une logistique complexe. L'utilisation d'assistants numériques personnels (PDA ou organiseurs) peut court-circuiter nombre des étapes qu'impose traditionnellement un système de saisie des données sur support papier. DÉMARCHE: Nous avons programmé, pensé et supervisé l'utilisation de PDA pour un dénombrement de grande ampleur dans le cadre d'une enquête et pour une campagne de vaccination de masse. CONTEXTE LOCAL: Le projet a été mis en œuvre au Zanzibar, en République Unie de Tanzanie. Zanzibar se compose de deux iles principales, Unguja et Pemba, dans lesquelles des flambées de choléra sont notifiées depuis les années 1970. MODIFICATIONS PERTINENTES: Les PDA nous ont permis de numériser l'information au point initial de contact avec les personnes interrogées. Une réponse immédiate du système en cas d'erreur a contribué à garantir la qualité et la fiabilité des données. Les PDA ont fourni des synthèses rapides des données permettant de mettre en œuvre sans délai des activités de recherche faisant suite aux premières. ENSEIGNEMENTS TIRÉS: La portabilité, l'enregistrement immédiat et la mise en relation des informations a permis de mieux structurer la collecte des données dans notre étude. Les PDA pourraient être plus utiles que les systèmes à support papier pour la collecte des données sur le terrain, notamment dans les zones pauvres des pays en développement.