Daily Water Consumption Research Articles

The Optimal Dietary Sodium or Chloride Level of Broilers Fed a Corn-Soybean Meal Diet from 22 to 42 Days of Age.

The objective of this study was to assess the ideal dietary Na or Cl level for chickens from 22 to 42 d of age, utilizing a corn-soybean meal diet that maintains a 1:1 ratio of Na to Cl. At 22 d of age, a total of 288 male broilers of Arbor Acres were selected and randomly divided into one of six treatments. Each treatment contained eight replicates, with six chicks in each replicate. The control chicks were given a basic diet including 0.02% Na and 0.07% Cl without added Na or Cl, while the birds in other treatments were given diets containing different Na or Cl levels (0.13%, 0.19%, 0.25%, 0.31%, and 0.37%). With increasing dietary Na or Cl levels, linear (p < 0.0001) and quadratic (p < 0.0001) increases occurred in ADG, ADFI, and average daily water consumption, while F/G exhibited a linear (p < 0.0001) and quadratic (p < 0.0001) decrease from 22 to 42 d of age in broilers. Linear (p < 0.02) and quadratic increases (p < 0.03) were found in the heart indicator, serum Cl- concentrations, and blood Na+ and Cl- concentrations, whereas the kidney indicator, blood K+ concentrations, and serum K+, UA, and glucose (GLU) concentrations showed a linear (p < 0.04) and quadratic (p < 0.004) decrease with an increase in dietary Na or Cl levels. The excreta water content, liver indicator, and jejunal crypt depth also showed a linear increase (p < 0.02). The ideal levels of dietary Na or Cl were estimated to be 0.07% to 0.12%, based on the most suitable broken-line and asymptotic models (p ≤ 0.0002) using those sensitive indicators mentioned above. It was suggested that the suitable dietary Na or Cl level of 0.12% would adequately fulfill the Na or Cl metabolic demands of chickens from 22 to 42 d of age.

Burden and determinants of scabies in a pastoralist community: a case–control study from Southwest Ethiopia

BackgroundScabies is a skin infestation caused by the human itch mite, affecting people globally across all demographics. However, it is more prevalent among children, individuals with poor hygiene, those in...

Performance of an integrated household greywater treatment system for water optimization and reuse

This study evaluated the efficiency of an on-site household greywater treatment system for indirect human reuse and for domestic lawn irrigation. This helps in the reduction in the disparity between water demand and supply that is facing the rapidly increasing global populace. Natural household greywater was settled and then conventionally filtered by using two types of non-woven geotextile media; thermally bonded and needle punched. A third woven cotton textile media was also experimented and all the non-woven geotextile media were tested in single and double layers and combined with the woven cotton textile layer. The different filter media configurations were tested for a period of one year operation (six runs) with two filtration rates of 15.00 and 25.00 m3/m2/day for each run. For all runs, the final treated effluent was disinfected using calcium hypochlorite prior to reuse. The double layer needle punched non-woven geotextile media together with the woven cotton textile media gave the best removal efficiencies; 96.34 ± 1.85% for turbidity 81.87 ± 6.43% for BOD5, 97.49 ± 1.68% for TSS, 75.35 ± 3.99% for CODt, 99.59% for E.coli. The soluble CODs removal efficiencies were negligible (below 3%) in the first four runs with non-woven geotextile media and increased to 28.05 ± 4.29% when the woven cotton textile media was added. In general, the system was found to save about 63% of the daily water consumption reflecting a net 22.50% reduction in the daily water billing costs for the whole household.

Enhanced Hydrophilicity of DAAQ-TFP COFs via Sulfonate Modification for Air Water Harvesting in Arid Environment.

The poor ability of covalent organic frameworks (COFs) based adsorbents at low relative humidity (RH) conditions limits their applications for air-water harvesting in arid environments. In the present work, the sulfonated COFs (DAAQ-TFP-SO3H@LiCl) composites are prepared through the functionalization of sulfonic acid and LiCl composite to improve its hydrophilicity. TheDAAQ-TFP-SO3H@LiCl composites exhibit a good adsorption performance, outperforming many other COF adsorbents developed so far. It can absorb 0.22±0.005g g-1 and 1.01±0.027g g-1 of water at room temperature under 20% RH and 90% RH, respectively while demonstrating good cyclic stability. Compared with the isotherm of the DAAQ-TFP, the introduction of the sulfonic acid group shifts the inflection point of the water isotherm toward low humidity, indicating that the sulfonic acid group effectively expends the working humidity range of the adsorbent and enables the effective water adsorption in an arid environment. Furthermore, the DAAQ-TFP-SO3H@LiCl composites display rapid kinetics during both the adsorption and desorption processes, reaching saturation within 60min in the equilibrium adsorption test and completing desorption within 12min at 50°C. This innovative approach provides a new method for designing adsorbent materials with low energy input requirements and high daily water consumption capabilities.

Treatment of textile dyes with steel flakes via Fenton and Electro-Fenton processes: An experimental analysis

The textile production process is well recognised as one of the most water-intensive industries, with an estimated daily water consumption of several thousand cubic metres. The main objective of the study is to remove the colour and COD of three reactive dyes namely reactive blue, reactive yellow and reactive black by Fenton and Electro Fenton Process. In this research paper, new novel catalyst steel flakes have been employed as part of the Fenton and Electro-Fenton process, replacing the conventional Fenton and Electro-Fenton catalyst. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX), Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) was done to characterize the steel flakes. The pH, dye concentration, FeSO4 dosage and H2O2 dosage were studied. The maximum colour and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal in Fenton process was 98.47 % and 74 % respectively. In Electro Fenton Oxidation the maximum colour and COD removal was 99.65 % and 78 % respectively. The best colour and COD removal was observed by Fenton and Electro Fenton oxidation with optimum Fenton molar ratio of 50:1 and pH 3 in all three dyes. In the laboratory-scale feasibility tests on the Electro-Fenton process, the highest colour removal effectiveness was observed at catalyst dosages of 1 g/L, 132 mM H2O2, and pH 3. The novel modified heterogeneous Electro-Fenton approach presents a distinct cost-effectiveness benefit in comparison to both the conventional Electro-Fenton reaction and the Electro-Fenton reaction employing alternative iron sources.

Specific phytohormones levels in leaves and spikes of wheat explains the effects of elevated CO2 on drought stress at the flowering stage

This study aims to understand the combined impact of elevated CO2 and drought stress at flowering stage to explain the adaptation of bread wheat to future climate change scenarios. Four wheat genotypes with 24 replications of each were grown in two different greenhouses, maintaining 400 (ambient) and 800 (elevated) ppm levels of CO2. Irrigation was withheld at flowering to impose drought to 10 replications while 10 were allowed to grow normally. Daily water consumption was recorded until the pot-water of drought plants reached 10 % of the well-watered ones. This study was aided by the measurement of ecophysiology, phytohormones, and yield-related traits. In comparison to normal CO2, plants consumed the pot water quickly under elevated CO2. Further, the threshold value of the fraction of transpirable soil water, at which the relative transpiration is diverging from 1 was different at the two levels of CO2, and among genotypes. Drought significantly reduced plant water relations, gas exchange parameters, grain yield, and yield-related traits but enhanced osmotic adjustment, kernel abortion, and most of the phytohormones in leaves and spikes. Elevated CO2 though increased gas exchange parameters significantly under well-watered conditions but these parameters were significantly reduced under combined effect with drought and resultantly, lower yield-related traits were recorded. Moreover, we also identified a strong positive association between leaf trans-zeatin and a strong negative association of leaf and spike ABA and ACC with grain yield indicating that maintenance of a higher level of leaf trans-zeatin or lower levels of ABA and ACC can help plants to adapt better to the combination of elevated CO2 and drought.

Combining price and non-price interventions for water conservation

Abstract Marginal pricing has long been the instrument of choice to address water conservation challenges. More recently, non-price behavioral interventions have emerged as an alternative. However, there is limited data on the relative efficacies of price and non-price interventions. We report results from long-term field experiments studying unit-level water conservation responses to both price and non-price interventions in the same group of households (n = 64 186 household-days). Conservation habits, attitude-action gaps, principal-agent incongruities, and billing cycles help account for the heterogeneity in response between households, and across time. A non-price behavior modification intervention before the introduction of marginal pricing resulted in a large and significant effect on treated households (33%). The subsequent introduction of marginal volumetric pricing also reduced water use (8%, for previously untreated households). However, this average price effect masks how a large share (21%) of households increased water use, or how a mere 12% of the households accounted for all the aggregate reduction in water use. We investigated such heterogeneous responses as a systematic conservation maximization design question beyond statistical variance in individual responses. We used daily water consumption measurements across three years alongside a household survey to delineate structural and agentic barriers to conservation behavior. Our analysis reveals how combining price and non-price behavioral interventions could hold the key to achieving conservation effects that are both large and persistent.

Variable frequency constant pressure water supply system based on Siemens S-1200

Abstract This paper presents the design of an efficient, cost-effective, and intelligent variable frequency water supply control system. The system consists of a PLC, frequency converters, water pumps, pressure sensors, and other components to form a closed-loop control system. It enables closed-loop control of water pressure, ensuring a dynamic balance between water consumption and water supply. A user-friendly HMI is designed based on a software platform for easy operation by management personnel. It allows for seamless switching of the system’s operating modes and the running status of water pumps. Real-time display of pump operation and monitoring of system performance are also provided. Compared to traditional water supply methods, this system exhibits superior reliability, speed, and performance. It is capable of meeting the daily water consumption needs of residents in high-rise buildings.

Growth performance, biochemical outcomes, and testicular histological features in male Japanese quails supplemented with milk thistle seeds

BackgroundDue to its rich content of active phytochemicals, milk thistle is regarded as a promising nutritional supplement for quails, particularly in regions with limited financial resources. Thus, our study aimed to evaluate the possible beneficial impact of aqueous extract of milk thistle seeds (MTS) at two graded concentrations (10 and 20 ml/L of drinking water) on male Japanese quails during their reproductive period.ResultsThe phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of 29 active compounds, including nine flavonoids and ten phenolic compounds. The supplemented groups showed significant improvements in body weight gain. MTS1 group exhibited a notable decrease in daily feed consumption, while MTS2 group showed a significant increase in daily water consumption. There was a dose-dependent increase in cecum length. The total count of intestinal bacteria decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Incorporating aqueous extract of MTS at concentration of 10 ml /L resulted in a significant increase in total protein and packed cell volume. Similar increases in globulin and decreases in the albumin/globulin ratio and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were observed with both doses of supplementation. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and AST was observed in the high-dose group. Significantly higher plasma testosterone and triiodothyronine levels were observed only in the high-dose group, while plasma thyroxine levels were similarly increased in both supplemented groups. Intervention with MTS resulted in dose-dependent increases in cloacal gland index and cloacal foam production. Both supplemented groups showed significant increases in the diameter of seminiferous tubules and the number of Sertoli cells.ConclusionMarked growth-promoting, antibacterial, and reproductive-enhancing effects were observed when incorporating aqueous extract of MTS into the quails’ drinking water, particularly at a dosage of 20 ml/L.

An integrative pharmacology-based study on the efficacy and mechanism of essential oil of Chaihu Guizhi Decoction on influenza A virus induced pneumonia in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceChaihu Guizhi Decoction (CGD) has a long history of use in China for the treatment of influenza, which involves the use of a variety of aromatic herbs. Our previous studies have found that the contents of aromatic constituents in CGD affected the efficacy of treatment of influenza-infected mice, suggesting a clue that essential oil from CGD may play a relatively important role in ameliorating influenza induced pneumonia. Aim of the studyTo evaluate the anti-influenza potential of essential oil derived from Chaihu Guizhi Decoction (CGD-EO), to characterize and predict the key active components in CGD-EO, and to explore the mechanism of action of CGD-EO. Materials and methodsCGD-EO was obtained by steam distillation, and the components of the essential oil were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in conjunction with the retention index. The constituents absorbed into the blood of mice treated with CGD-EO were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). The potential anti-influenza active constituents and their possible action pathway were predicted by simulation using a network pharmacology approach. The protective effect of CGD-EO and its major components on H1N1/PR8-infected cells was determined using the CCK8 assay kit. Mice infected with influenza A virus H1N1/PR8 were administered different doses of CGD-EO orally and the body weights and lung weights were recorded. Mice with varying degrees of H1N1/PR8 infection were administered CGD-EO orally, and their daily weight, water consumption, and clinical indicators were recorded. Necropsies were conducted on days 3 and 5, during which lung weights were measured and lung tissues were preserved. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of the H1N1/PR8 virus and inflammatory factors in lung tissue was analyzed using RT-qPCR. Results(E)-cinnamaldehyde was the most abundant compound in the CGD-EO. The results of serum medicinal chemistry combined with network pharmacological analysis indicated that (E)-cinnamaldehyde and 3-phenyl-2-propenal may be potential active components of the CGD-EO anti-influenza, and may be involved in the NF-κB signalling pathway. In vitro studies have demonstrated that both CGD-EO and cinnamaldehyde exert a protective effect on MDCK cells infected with H1N1/PR8. In a 0.5 TCID50 H1N1/PR8-induced influenza model, mice treated with CGD-EO at a dose of 63.50 μg/kg exhibited a reduction in lung index, pathological lung lesions, and H1N1/PR8 viral gene levels. In addition, CGD-EO treatment was found to regulate the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Moreover, following three days of administration, an upregulation of NF-κB mRNA levels in mouse lung tissue was observed in response to CGD-EO treatment. ConclusionsThe findings of our study indicate CGD-EO exerts a protective effect against H1N1-induced cytopathic lesions in vitro and is capable of alleviating H1N1-induced pneumonitis in mice. Moreover, it appears to be more efficacious in the treatment of mild symptoms of H1N1 infection. Studies have demonstrated that CGD-EO has antiviral potential to attenuate influenza-induced lung injury by modulating inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB signalling pathways during the early stages of influenza infection. It is possible that (E)-cinnamaldehyde is a potential active ingredient in the anti-influenza efficacy of CGD-EO.

Influence of the Glutaraldehyde-based and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds Based Aerosol Disinfectant on Some of the Physiological and Zootechnical Indices in Broiler Chickens

Introduction. A huge number of disinfectants are used for aerosol disinfection of poultry premises, most of them are recommended for preventive or terminal disinfection carried out in the absence of poultry. At the same time, some products available to veterinary services are recommended for concurrent disinfection and are used in the presence of poultry, although, not all of them meet the requirements on composition, purpose and mode of use. The one of interest is a glutaraldehyde-based and quaternary ammonium compounds (QAC) based disinfectant, which has already been investigated in the scientific sources, however the influence of this agent on the physiological and zootechnical status of poultry treated therewith has not been fully studied. The aim of this research is to study the physiological status and productive qualities of the broiler chickens exposed to direct aerosol treatment with the glutaraldehydeand QAD based disinfectant.Materials and Methods. The research was conducted from October to November 2019 in the industrial poultry farm settings in a large flock of broiler chickens of the Cobb 500 cross, divided into two groups — experimental and control one. In the experimental poultry house, on the 10th day after putting the broiler chickens in the house, a preventive aerosol disinfection was carried out by means of the Nebulo cold fogger in the presence of poultry. A 0.5% solution of glutaraldehydeand QAD based disinfectant was used in a dosage of 5 ml per 1 m3 (the maximum permissible concentration exceeding the recommended one). In the control poultry house the aerosol disinfection was not carried out. The biochemical tests of blood serum (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), total bilirubin, total protein, creatinine, blood urea, blood uric acid) were made using a biochemical analyser. The zootechnical indices were also studied (livability, mortality, average daily gain, feed and water consumption during the full growing life cycle, feed conversion ratio).Results. The time history of the blood serum biochemical indices showed that the use of the glutaraldehydeand QAD based aerosol disinfectant in the specified above dosage in the presence of broiler chickens did not cause a negative, toxic effect on chickens’ metabolic indicators — all changes fluctuated slightly within the physiological norm. The zootechnical monitoring data have revealed the positive effect of the aerosol disinfection on the growth and maturing of chickens, enhancement of the livestock livability and poultry average daily gain due to the decrease of microbial burden on the growing organisms of chickens. The broiler chickens livability during the entire growing period in the experimental group was 0.84% higher than in the control group. Also, the average daily gain by the end of the growing period in the experimental group was 1.52% higher than in the control group, and the average liveweight of one bird was 2 137.7 g (experimental group) and 2 111.1 g (control group). At the same time, the feed costs in the experimental group were 0.11% less than in the control group.Discussion and Conclusion. It was found that the use of a glutaraldehydeand QAD based aerosol disinfectant, even in the maximum permissible concentration in the presence of poultry, not only didn’t have a negative effect on the physiological and zootechnical status of the broiler chickens, but, on the contrary, fostered creation of the more comfortable conditions for their keeping and growing. The obtained research results allow us to confidently recommend this method of aerosol disinfection to be used in the animal and poultry keeping premises.

An Environmental Audit of Aracari Resort

Tourism impacts the economy, the natural and built environment, the immediate population, and even tourists – the very resource needed by the industry to remain viable. Regular assessment of the environmental performance of the industry is necessary to ascertain compliance with national standards and regulations. This is achieved with an environmental audit. To this end, an environmental audit was conducted at the Aracari Resort, almost a decade after it began operations. The Resort’s operations should have minimal impact on public health and the environment, as evidenced by good sanitation, safety measure implementation, and adherence to the Public Health Legislation and Occupation Health &amp; Safety Act. The methodology used included monitoring of water quality and use, noise, and energy; and direct observation of waste and safety management. The results showed that water quality parameters such as pH, temperature, phosphorus and ammonium were in compliance with the national effluent discharge guidelines; however, chlorides, chemical oxygen demand, and total suspended solids were not. Water metre readings revealed an average daily water consumption of 22.5m3 and an average weekly water consumption of 135m3. Noise produced from the Resort was in compliance with the daytime limits of 75 dB based on the national standard, but exceeded residential nighttime limits (from Friday to Sunday) of 60 dB. The average (55.6 kW), maximum (83.85 kW), and minimum (51.9 kW) power demands across a 7-day period were obtained from Fluke Monitoring System readings. Solid waste management was observed to be inadequate on days of planned events, with overflowing bins evident on the premises. Safety measures were implemented for food, chemical handling and storage, swimming pool safety, and fire safety, which were observed to be consistent with the standards. The facility’s overall performance was satisfactory based on the evaluation criteria, and some environmental practices of Aracari Resort conformed to the Environmental Protection Agency requirements and other established guidelines. Areas identified for improved compliance and enhanced environmental management included the implementation of an environmental policy, regular monitoring of environmental parameters, and staff training on the terms and conditions of the Environmental Permit.

Analysis of differences in early detection of chronic kidney disease with urine creatinine, proteins and individual health status based on behavioural, stress and genetic factors in Kendari City, Indonesia

Background:Early detection of chronic kidney disease needs to be developed because the prevalence of chronic kidney disease continues to increase in Kendari City, Indonesia. Objective:The study aimed to analyse of differences in early detection of chronic kidney disease with urine proteins, creatinine, and individual health status based on behaviours, psychological-stress environment and genetic factors in Kendari City, Indonesia. Methods:This research used quantitative method with a cross sectional study approach. This study was conducted in Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia, which recruited 136 subjects aged between 24-70 years. The participants were interviewed and tested urine. The dependent variables are protein-urine, creatinine, and health status. The independent variables are behaviours, psychological environment-stress and genetics. Data analysis used multinomial logistic regression statistical tests. Results: This study suggests that there are differences between tests for urine protein levels, creatinine and individual health status for early detection of chronic kidney disease which is associated with behaviours, psychological-stress environment and genetic factors in Kendari City. Protein-urine can be used early detection of chronic kidney disease which is related to daily water consumption (p=0.001, OR=1.56), calory intake (p=0.036, OR=2.13) and psychological stress environment (p=0.017, OR=0.11). However, urine creatine test cannot be use for early detection of chronic kidney disease. Meanwhile, individual’s health status can be used to early detection of chronic kidney disease with relating to daily water consumption behaviour of less than 1000 ml a day (p&lt;0.0001, OR=1.56), physical activity (p&lt;0.05, OR=5.7), medication adherence (P&lt;0.01, OR=0.4), and psychological stress environment (p&lt;0.0001, OR=8.6). Conclusion: Early detection of chronic kidney disease may be more effective by observing health status directly, or by urine protein testing, compared to urine creatinine testing. Keywords:Chronic kidney disease, behaviour, genetic, stress, proteins.

Green roof plant physiological water demand for transpiration under extreme heat

Green roofs are a sustainable strategy for improving the eco-environment in urban areas. However, plants on green roofs are increasingly threatened by extreme heat and drought due to climate change. There is a lack of comprehensive understanding of the physiological water demand of green roof vegetation under extreme heat. Therefore, this exploratory study investigated two commonly used Sedum species for urban green roofs (Sedum spectabile Boreau and Sedum alfredii Hance) under extreme heat, considering two treatments: irrigation and non-irrigation. The results indicated that under extreme heat, if without irrigation, the two Sedum species’ mean daily water consumption by transpiration was approximately 4.68 g per Sedum plant. However, under irrigation, the diurnal variation of stomatal conductance of the two Sedum species allowed the stomata to remain open throughout the day, resulting in an over-twentyfold increase in mean daily water consumption through transpiration (120.34 g per Sedum plant) and twofold increase in leaf area index. A random forest model showed that multi-environmental factors explained 67.53 % of the variability in stomatal behavior. Photosynthetically active radiation and soil moisture are the primary environmental factors that directly affect stomatal conductance. The irrigation induces stomatal opening throughout the diurnal cycle, ensuring the continuation of vegetation growth and the maintenance of physiological functions under extreme heat, which then contributes to keeping its eco-environmental functions and providing sustainable services, such as cooling and carbon sequestration. The findings of this study can guide planning and managing green roofs in urban areas that face extreme heat events.

WATER RESOURCES OF THE KHOROSTKIV TERRITORIAL COMMUNITY: ECOLOGICAL STATUS, WATER USE PROBLEMS, OPTIMISATION MEASURES

The article analyses the ecological state of surface water resources of the Khorostkiv territorial community (ТС). According to the results of laboratory tests, pathogenic microorganisms, bacteriological indicators exceeding the regulatory requirements, faecal contamination and high content of organic matter were detected in the surface water bodies of the Khorostkiv TC. In addition to the pollution of surface water bodies in the Khorostkiv TC, an important environmental problem worth paying attention to is the lack of sanitary protection and water protection zones for rivers and ponds, as well as the littering of the coastal strip. It was found that the water supply network of the Khorostkiv territorial community includes only the water supply network of the town of Khorostkiv (30 km, unsatisfactory condition), since there are no centralised water supply systems in rural settlements. In the sources of centralised water supply in Khorostkiv, the levels of ammonium nitrogen and colour are exceeded. Hydrochemical analysis of water samples from private wells in Khorostkiv and the villages of Peremyliv and Khlopivka confirmed compliance with the requirements of SanR&amp;R № 400. The volume of daily water consumption and water disposal was analysed. The main sources of pollution of the community's water resources and the volume of wastewater discharges were identified. Priority areas for improving the ecological state of water resources of the Khorostkiv community are substantiated. Keywords: surface water, groundwater, pollutants, water supply, water disposal, territorial community (ТС).

MEDIGUIDE

In the era of digital health management, Mediguide emerges as a comprehensive solution for individuals seeking efficient and organized management of their daily health routines. Mediguide is an application designed to streamline the process of tracking essential health metrics, including water intake and medication adherence, while also incorporating advanced features such as Report Interpreter. With Mediguide, users can effortlessly record their daily water consumption and medication intake, ensuring adherence to prescribed regimens. The standout feature, Report Interpreter, empowers users to upload and interpret their medical reports with precision, providing detailed insights and recommendations based on the data. This paper presents the conceptualization, development, and potential impact of Mediguide within the realm of personal health management, emphasizing its user-centric design and innovative functionalities. Through Mediguide, we envision a future where individuals can take proactive control of their health with ease and confidence. Keywords: - Medication logging module, Medication reminders, Personal health management, Water intake tracking , Personalized healthcare

#1749 Influence of high saline diet on myocardial remodeling, microRNA-21i and NFkB expression in myocardium

Abstract Background and Aims There is now increased interest in the study of morpho-functional myocardial changes in excess NaCl consumption, which develop independently of AD dynamics. Myocardial remodeling may involve microRNAs that modulate gene expression at the post-transcription level. However, their role in this process has not been fully explored. The purpose of the study is to assess the levels of expression of the nucleic transcription factor kV (NFkB), microRNA-21 and structural changes in the myocardium at long-term consumption of Wistar diet with high (8%) table salt content. Method Male Wistar rats (body mass 280.5 42.7 g) were divided into two groups of 10 animals. For 4 months, the control rats (NaCl) received a standard diet (0.34% NaCl), and the animals of the other group received a high salt diet (8% NaCl) (HS). Laboratory food varied only in NaCl content. 4 months later in rats systolic AD was measured, myocardial mass index (IMM) was evaluated, myocardial histology was performed (paraffin coloration - hematoxylin-eosin, Masson), relative expression levels of my RNA-determined 21 and NFkB in the myocardium, sodium content in the urine and blood serum. Statistical analysis used the t-Student criterion and the Mann-Whitney test. The differences were considered significant at p &amp;lt; 0.05. Results Excess NaCl (8%) in the diet had no effect on animal body weight (370.5 32.0 g in HS group, 393.0 21.4 g in NS group, p &amp;gt; 0.05) and systolic AD. In the HS-Group, the average AD was 134.5 8.9 mm old, and in the NS-Group - 134.8 5.2 mm old. (p &amp;gt; 0.05). However, HS-group IMM rats were 25% higher than NS-group rats (p &amp;lt; 0.05). The daily water consumption in the HS group was on average 33% higher than in the control, the daily diuresis also increased (10.5 5.7 ml against 5.7 2.9 ml in the NS-group, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and the sodium content in the urine (81.25.72 mmol/l against 161.18.57 mmol in the NS-01). There was no difference in the sodium content of the blood serum. Hypertrophy of cardiomyocytes, protein dystrophy, and increased wall thickness of arterial vessels (NS-20,42 3,53, HS-27,61 4,93, µm were identified in the HS-group; p &amp;lt; 0.01). The area of perivascular fibrosis in rats of the HS group (14876 ± 3803.7 µm2) was almost 1.8 times higher than that in the NS group (8426.0 ± 3012.2 µm2, p &amp;lt; 0.03). The thickness of cardiomyocytes (NS-12.97 1.53, HS-20.28 1.90 µm, p &amp;lt; 0.001) also increased in rats on the HS diet. In animals of the HS group, the relative expression levels of NFkB (more than 2 times) and microRNA-21 (almost 6 times) in the myocardium increased compared to the NS group. It can be assumed that the adverse effect on the cardiovascular system of high-salt diets is partially realized through NFκB-associated signaling pathways and the activation of microRNA-21. Conclusion Long-term use of a high-salt diet in Wistar rats results in myocardial remodeling unrelated to changes in AD levels. In this case, the high salt intake effects on the myocardium may be mediated by an increase in NFkBy and microRNA-21 expression levels.

Nitrogen use efficiency of drip irrigated sugar beet as affected by sub-optimal levels of nitrogen and irrigation

Sugar beet has strong drought resistance and requires a large amount of nitrogen (N) during growth. Can deficit irrigation combined with low N supply of sugar beet improve water productivity (WP) and N use efficiency (NUE)? In this field study in 2020–2021, two irrigation regimes (W1, field capacity (FC) of the 0–60 cm soil layer was not lower than 70% from 45 days after emergence (DAE) to harvest period; W2, FC of the 0–60 cm soil layer was not lower than 50% in 45–90 DAE, but was consistent with that of W1 after 90 DAE) and three N application rates (0 (N0), 150 (N1), and 225 (N2) kg N ha−1) were designed. Then, their impacts on taproot yield (TY), water consumption (WC) and N uptake (NU) were explored. The results showed that there was no significant difference in TY between W2 and W1 treatments under the N1 and N2 levels. Under the N1 and N2 levels, the daily water consumption (DWC, 0.121 and 0.125 mm ℃d−1) and daily N uptake (DNU, 53.6 and 71.6 g N ℃d−1) of W2 treatment were significantly lower than the DWC (0.161 and 0.164 mm ℃d−1) and DNU (60.6 and 86.5 g N ℃d−1) of W1 treatment in 0–90 DAE. The W2N1 treatment had similar WP and higher NUE compared with the W1N2 treatment. In addition, the fertilizer-15N recovery rate in W2N1 treatment was 8.8% higher than that in W1N2 treatment, the fertilizer-15N loss rate was 6.6% lower than that in W1N2 treatment, but there was no difference in the fertilizer-15N residue between the two. This study clarified that implementing W2 deficit irrigation (50% FC at the canopy rapid growth stage (45–90 DAE)) and N1 nitrogen application rate (33% nitrogen reduction based on 225 kg N ha−1) could not reduce TY but improve WP and NUE.

Identifying daily water consumption patterns based on K-means Clustering, Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering, and Spectral Clustering algorithms

ABSTRACTUnderstanding daily water consumption patterns is crucial for efficient management and distribution of water resources, as well as for promoting energy conservation and achieving carbon peaking and neutrality targets. It compares performance of three clustering algorithms, K-means Clustering (KC), Agglomerative Hierarchical Clustering (AHC), and Spectral Clustering (SC), using Silhouette Coefficient Index (SCI) and Calinski–Harabasz Index (CHI) as evaluation metrics. We conducted a case study using original hourly flow series of a water distribution division. It aims to identify typical daily water consumption patterns and explore factors that influence them. Findings are as follows: (1) among the three algorithms, KC demonstrates the best, with SCI of 0.6315, 0.5922, and 0.6272, and CHI of 305.9207, 274.1120, and 302.4738 for KC, AHC, and SC, respectively. (2) KC successfully identifies three distinct typical daily water consumption patterns. (3) Results indicate a significant impact of seasons on daily water consumption patterns. (4) Conversely, weekdays and holidays have minimal effect on daily water consumption patterns. It highlights the importance of comprehending daily water consumption patterns and underscores the effectiveness of KC in identifying such patterns. Furthermore, it emphasizes the significant influence of seasons while revealing limited impact of weekdays and holidays on daily water consumption patterns.

Tracking and tracing water consumption for informed water sensitive intervention through machine learning approach

To develop a water conscious strategy, it is critical to track and trace water from its source to the end users, understand water conservation behaviors, and identify the factors that influence water consumption. However, in developing nations, little research has been done to provide a quantitative picture of how water is consumed and transformed in urban households, as well as the water sensitive interventions needed to improve access to clean water. Hence, the main objective of the study was to determine the most significant residential water consumption variables and to predict residential water consumption in a way that can generate water consumption information for water sensitive intervention decision making using the case study of Adama city in Ethiopia. A combination of top down and bottom up data collection techniques were employed as the data collection instrument. Machine learning was integrated with spatial and socioeconomic analytic techniques to estimate daily household water consumption and identify the factors that significantly influence household water consumption. The results show that there is only “one source option” for the city’s clean water supply and that different water harvesting methods are not likely to be developed. The average daily water consumption per person is 69 liters which falls below the national standard of 80 liters allocated per person per day. The result reveals that the water distribution network covers only 45% of the city master plan. About 38% of the water demand is unmet and 30% of households only receive water once every three days or fewer. This shows that the city is experiencing physical and economic water scarcity. The results demonstrated that family size, housing quality, income, number of rooms, legal status of the parcel, supply reliability, climate, and topographical features are the most important factors in predicting residential water consumption. This study further demonstrates how well supervised machine learning models, such as the Random Forest Regression algorithm, can predict the household’s daily water consumption. The findings also showed that there is a need for significant improvements in water saving habits of the households. Another conclusion that can be drawn is that as long as the city’s business as usual water consumption practice doesn’t change, the water supply problem will worsen over time.