Forty patients who underwent a single tension-free vaginal tape procedure were evaluated by perineal ultrasound both pre- and postoperatively in a prospective observational clinical study. The positions of the tape, bladder neck and urethra were sonographically documented at rest and during Valsalva maneuvers. During Valsalva the tape rotated towards the symphysis in all patients. Postoperative urethral angulation could be demonstrated in 36 of 40 patients. Bladder neck mobility remained unchanged after the tension-free vaginal tape procedure, and 36 of the 40 were dry according to patient questionnaires. Postoperative cough test was negative in all patients. Two points seem to be important for the functioning of the tension-free vaginal tape: a dynamic kinking of the urethra during stress, and the movement of the tape against the symphysis, compressing the tissue between the tape and the symphysis. Mobility of the bladder neck is unaffected by the single tension-free vaginal tape procedure.

This paper examines the possibility of Public‐Private‐People partnership (4P) model as a way to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from residential developments. The case project focuses on the energy system design as a part of urban planning. Based on the case experiences, the paper presents a 4P framework for low‐carbon residential development systems. The theoretical model was tested in one specific case project, Nupurinkartano. The major findings were that the 4P framework is a relevant tool for decreasing carbon emissions when planning a new development; the applied solution delivered an energy system design that could reduce the CO2 emissions of the development by 75%. Based on literature this paper suggests that a new development should be viewed as one system instead of several different subsystems. The paper concludes by suggesting that 4P offers an alternative approach for urban planning, specifically energy system planning, and it can deliver significant improvements in carbon efficiency. Santruka Šiame darbe nagrinejama galimybe viešojo ir privataus sektoriu bei žmoniu partnerystes (angl. Public‐Pri‐vate‐People Partnership ‐ 4P) modeli taikyti kaip būda mažinti anglies dvideginio emisijas gyvenamuosiuose rajonuose. Pasirinktame projekte daugiausia demesio skiriama energetikos sistemos projektavimui, kuris yra miestu planavimo dalis. Remiantis atvejo patirtimi, darbe pristatoma 4P struktūra, skirta mažai anglies dvideginio išmetančioms gyvenamuju rajonu sistemoms. Teorinis modelis išmegintas pasirinkus konkretu projekta Nupurinkartano rajone. Padaryta išvada, kad, planuojant nauja rajona, 4P struktūra — tinkama priemone mažinti anglies dvideginio emisijas. Pritaikius ši sprendima buvo parengtas energetikos sistemos projektas, CO2 emisijas rajone galintis sumažinti 75 proc. Remiantis literatūros šaltiniais šiame darbe teigiama, kad nauja rajona reiketu traktuoti kaip viena sistema, o ne kelis skirtingus posistemius. Darbas baigiamas teigiant, kad 4P — tai alternatyvus miestu, ypač energetikos sistemu, planavimo būdas, galintis suteikti galimybiu veiksmingai mažinti anglies dvideginio emisijas.

Built environment carbon reduction strategies materialize predominantly in city-level greenhouse gas (GHG) management, where new residential development appears as one of the key instruments. However, city-level assessments are often incapable of producing data at a community or neighborhood level and thus they may heavily underestimate the emissions from new construction. This paper explores the implications of low-energy residential construction as an instrument of climate change mitigation in the built environment and demonstrates why city-level approaches easily fail to identify the significance of the emissions from construction. We employ a hybrid life cycle assessment (LCA) approach to demonstrate that, when the temporal allocation of emissions from the construction and use phases is taken into account, construction phase emissions come to have a central role in finding effective GHG mitigation strategies-even when the emissions from all consumption activities during the use phase are included in the assessment. In fact, their role would seem to be so central that new residential construction cannot be utilized as an instrument of city carbon management, even over a relatively long period. While we analyze a case study from Finland, the analysis intends to highlight the situation throughout the globe.

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to examine the identification and engagement of future inhabitants in planning processes for residential developments using a new ''4Ps'' participation method, where the 4Ps denote public, private and people are in partnership. This form of participation gives new information, related to consumers' residential choice, unlike those environments produced by using other participation methods. Design/methodology/approach -The empirical study is based on innovation theory where endusers are primary stakeholders in the innovation process, and even innovators themselves. A case study of a new participation method based on a two-phase internet questionnaire is used to research practical solutions in integrating end-users into urban planning process. Findings -This paper demonstrates that the widely used theory of communicative action in planning and its aim of increasing citizens' activity in planning and development processes can be developed to the stage that it also includes future inhabitants as stakeholders. Thus urban planning processes become innovative and customer-oriented through their openness, end-user orientation and interpretative nature. Originality/value -The case study findings indicate that the new participation method described here gives flexibility and benefits to all stakeholders and is a method to create consumer-desirable neighbourhoods. Engaging future inhabitants in planning processes opens previously unseen potential for including consumerist possibilities for cities and developers. This paper illustrates that this new 4Ps participation method makes comprehensive participatory planning and development possible through giving an opportunity to include consumers' opinions and needs into an alternative to traditional communicative planning.

The aim of this paper is to present the concept of 'procurement clinics', which have been used in complex property and urban development-related procurement processes in Finland, and to evaluate the benefits of the aforementioned concept. Procurement clinics are a systematised form of market dialogue under the Act of Public Procurement, which derives from the EU procurement directive. As a major finding, the paper presents a successful way to improve property and urban development-related procurement processes, especially when using competitive dialogue. As a by-product, the paper also presents methods of implementing a procurement clinic. The study was conducted in Finland only, which poses some limitations when applying the findings elsewhere. However, in EU countries the public procurement processes follow the aforementioned directive and should be rather similar.Practical implications of the study consist of improving procurement and urban development processes. These improvements are better private sector participation in procurement, shorter procurement processes and changes in the formatting of procurement.