Structure Of Intake Research Articles

Гигиеническая оценка безопасности поступления никеля с пищевыми продуктами у взрослого населения региона Западной Сибири

In this study, nickel intake with foods was estimated in adults living in the Omsk region. The estimation was based on analyzing how frequently variable foods were consumed by a representative sample (n = 421, 2020). The median of average daily nickel intake with foods equaled 0.13 mg/day (0.100; 0.179). The level between 0.088 and 0.196 mg/day was suggested as a statistical standard of nickel intake with foods for adults living in Western Siberia. We did not establish any significant differences in nickel intake with foods between men and women and between all the age groups. In all the analyzed age groups, a major contribution to nickel intake with foods was made by vegetables (29.1 %), fruits (16.3 %), and drinks (16.9 %). As for specific food products, we identified several major sources of the metal including tea (20.8 %), fresh apples (13.9 %), chocolate bars and chocolate sweets (11.8 %), and fresh tomatoes (9.7 %). We established significant differences in the structure of nickel intake with foods among the analyzed population in the Omsk region and people living in the central Europe. In the Omsk region, a much greater contribution was made by plant-based foods (65.0 % in the Omsk region and 49.0 % in the central Europe) and contributions made by drinks and animal-based foods were substantially lower. These results highlight the necessity to investigate specific regional diets to identify risk groups and territories with elevated health risks. Nickel intake with foods was considered tentative optimal for the analyzed population.

China is implementing the national nutrition plan of action.

With the transformation of Chinese economic and social structure, the social determinants of nutrition have undergone significant changes, which have a great influence on the dietary patterns and nutrition status of its population. The transition in the structure of nutrition intake in China can be characterized by a rapid trend in food accessibility, affordability, and diversity. However, challenges, such as the triple burden of malnutrition (undernourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity), still seriously threaten the population's health. To approach the targets for the “Healthy China 2030,” the General Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued the National Nutrition Plan of Action (2017–2030), which specifies multi-sectoral transdisciplinary measures to improve population nutrition status. In our study, we recognized the role of the National Nutrition Plan of China in responding to the call for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Under the global- and country-level targets, this paper presented six primary intervention measures specified in the National Nutrition Plan of Action in China, highlighting the importance of collaborative actions for participants in all sectors.

Network Analysis of Demographics, Dietary Intake, and Comorbidity Interactions.

The aim of this study was to elucidate the complex interrelationships among dietary intake, demographics, and the risk of comorbidities. We applied a Gaussian graphical model to calculate the dietary scores of the participants. The network structure of dietary intake, demographics, and comorbidities was estimated in a mixed graphical model. The centrality indices of the nodes (strength (S), closeness (C), and betweenness (B)) were measured to identify the central node. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the association between the factors and comorbidities. Among 7423 participants, the strongest pairwise interactions were found between sex and smoking (1.56), sex and employment (0.66), sex and marital status (0.58), marital status and income (0.65), and age and employment (0.58). Among the factors in the network, sex played a central role (S = 4.63, C = 0.014, B = 41), followed by age (S = 2.81, C = 0.013, B = 18), smoking (S = 2.72, C = 0.013, B = 0), and employment (S = 2.17, C = 0.014, B = 22). While the odds of hypertension and diabetes were significantly higher among females than males, an inverse association was observed between high cholesterol and moderate chronic kidney disease. Among these factors, dietary intake was not a strongly interacting factor in the network, whereas age was consistently associated with the comorbidities of hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease.

Regulation of the flow in the area of the damless water intake

The article discusses the results of numerical studies of the flow of the Amudarya river above the point of the damless water intake to the head structure of the damless water intake to the Karshi Main Canal-KMC. The system of two-dimensional equations of hydrodynamics-Saint-Venant is used as the basis of the mathematical model. In this work, a series of calculations of the field of currents in the river channel during low-water periods is carried out. Below are the main research results and proposals for ensuring the stable operation of the damless water intake in low-water conditions. The applicability of a numerical model composed of the equations of shallow water -the vector equation for the conservation of momentum and the scalar equation for the conservation of mass, has been proved, when describing a flow with the presence of circulation zones, which is typical when the water flow is constrained by blind dams. In this case, the solution pulsates around a certain average value, and the average length of the circulation zone behind the sudden expansion of the open flow is in good agreement with laboratory experiments. Numerical studies have shown that the device of a jet-guiding dam 150 m above the water intake gate in the CMC is more effective than when the dam is located 250 m above. In essence, dam № 2 with a length of 65 m does not affect the conditions at the water intake in the KMC at all, and dam № 2 with a length of 120 m is almost equivalent in its impact on the flow to dam №1 with a length of 50 m. Analysis of the results shows that the placement of an additional threshold in the Amudarya river bed improves the situation by raising the water level at the water intake. The threshold is flooded even at low water levels, which reduces the speed load on its body. At the same time, the threshold is located directly at the beginning of the channel, in part to protect the intake from incoming sediment, and high enough speed water glistening over the threshold in line, ensure the transit of sediment that can reduce enters the intake. Such measures will reduce the turbidity of water entering the channel. This, in turn, reduces the intensity of the silting process.

PROPER NUTRITION FOR A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OF THE POPULATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

The research reflects the issues of providing the population of the republic with food according to the criteria of availability, affordability and sufficiency. The health of the nation is the basis for the country's sustainable development, which is directly dependent on a proper balanced diet. The article presents an analysis of production of gross output in agriculture and food products. To determine the economic and physical availability of food, prices and purchasing power of the average per capita cash income of the residents of Kazakhstan in relation to food products have been analyzed, the level of expenses for their purchase and consumption in kind is shown. Comparison of indicators of the use of basic food products by region, various categories of people living in rural areas, revealed deviations for urban and rural residents, as well as depending on the territory, income level, subsistence minimum thresholds. Differences in consumption of decile groups and households with children under eighteen years of age are shown. There are fluctuations in the structure of caloric intake by decile groups and regions. The influence of nutritional problems on the health of vulnerable population of the republic is considered. There a sons and factors influencing the diet are revealed and analyzed. A comparative analysis of achieving the goals of sustainable economic development, attitude to healthy, organic products is presented. Solving the problem of providing the country's residents with sufficient and affordable food, establishing a balance of supply and demand, improving the quality of manufactured products is an important priority of the public policy of any state.

Operation damless intake of the Amudarya river (Central Asia)

The article describes the nature of the ongoing channel processes occurring in large damless water intakes from the Amudarya-Karakum, Karshi, and Amu – Bukhara channels located in its middle course. The characteristic features of the ongoing channel processes in the area of water intake are given. Based on the analysis of the current state of damless water intake, a method for improving its operation is recommended. To solve the problems of ensuring high-quality water intake and water supply, experimental studies were carried out to determine the angle of the bottom threshold in the inlet section of the head structure in the ABMCh. The analysis of the studies showed that for the threshold angles to the shore β = 30°, 45° 60°, an increase in the angle β from 30° to 60° increases the intensity of the artificial transverse circulation formed in the flow. It is proved that this circumstance is also true for a constant angle of threshold β with an increase in the relative threshold height H rth . The bottom threshold ensures the entry of bottom sediments into the head structure of the damless water intake. The threshold height is set to 1.44 m, which is determined in comparison with the height of the beds of sediments. To prevent the entry of a large amount of bottom sediment into the head structure of a damless intake, it is recommended that the device be used especially in the inlet section of the channel. It is shown that a Karakum channel is intensively exposed to deigish. Moreover, in this process a certain sequence is traced. First, one deigish is formed, the erosion products of which create favorable conditions for the occurrence of the next deigish. So the chain of deigish “walks” along the shore. The distance between deigish, also a “step,” varies widely: from 3-7 to 15-40 m or more. Then, the remaining protrusions between the deigish are washed out, which leads to a general expansion of the channel. It has been established that deigish appears and develops in both straight and curved sections of the channel. In the latter case, they are formed mainly on the concave bank, although there are cases of their location on the convex. This means that there are corresponding conditions for its formation in both straight and curved sections of the channel. It is substantiated that the formation and intensive development of deigish are associated with the intense channel-forming activity of the flow, which manifests itself both in the process of developing channel forms and in active sediment transport. It is recommended that in order to prevent the deigish process, it is necessary to carry out water management measures aimed at strengthening the channel of the channel. The implementation of concrete cladding using modern materials to reduce losses on filtering the channel in addition to preventing deigish channel and also helps to increase the efficiency of the irrigation channel.

Late and Instable Sleep Phasing is Associated With Irregular Eating Patterns in Eating Disorders.

Sleep problems are common in eating disorders (EDs). We evaluated whether sleep-phasing regularity associates with the regularity of daily eating events. ED patients (n = 29) completed hourly charts of mood and eating occasions for 2 weeks. Locomotor activity was recorded continuously by wrist actigraphy for a minimum of 10 days, and sleep was calculated based on periods of inactivity. We computed the center of daily inactivity (CenDI) as a measure of sleep phasing and consolidation of the daily inactivity (ConDI) as a measure of daily sleep rhythm strength. We assessed interday irregularities in the temporal structure of food intake using the standard deviation (SD) of frequency (IFRQ), timing (ITIM), and interval (IINT) of food intake. A self-evaluation of other characteristics included mood, anxiety, and early trauma. A later phasing of sleep associated with a lower frequency of eating (eating frequency with the CenDI rho = -0.49, p = .007). The phasing and rhythmic strength of sleep correlated with the degree of eating irregularity (CenDI with ITIM rho = 0.48, p = .008 and with IINT rho = 0.56, p = .002; SD of CenDI with ITIM rho = 0.47, p = .010, and SD of ConDI with IINT rho = 0.37, p = .048). Childhood Trauma Questionnaire showed associations with variation of sleep onset (rho = -0.51, p = .005) and with IFRQ (rho = 0.43, p = .023). Late and variable phasing of sleep associated robustly with irregular pattern of eating. Larger data sets are warranted to enable the analysis of diagnostic subgroups, current medication, and current symptomatology and to confirm the likely bidirectional association between eating pattern stability and the timing of sleep.

Investigating the effectiveness of a fish-protection structure of the reclamation water intake

The study was conducted at the reclamation water intake facility of Tikhovsky hydroelectric complex. We used data from long-term observations and results of laboratory studies on a 1:20 scale physical model of the Zapan fish protection device. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated using simulators of juvenile fish. Increasing the efficiency of the Zapan fish protection facility is achieved by additional placement in the bottom threshold, which directs the bottom flow along with the young fish to the springboard, where there is an airlift in the form of a bubble curtain that lifts the young along the springboard into the fish-receiving holes of permeable shields. Fish protection design and location in the middle of the water stream do not create a backwater due to low resistance and provide protection for young fish. This increases not only the survival rate of young fish, but also the efficiency of reclamation water intakes. A new design of a fish protection structure for reclamation water intakes of the Zapan type was developed, which provides a fish protection effect of 3 groups of young fish formed by their swimming ability, which allowed determining the size of the elements of the fish protection structure.

A Model Analysis of the Effect of Climate Changes on the Balance Structure of Operational Reserves of Riverside Groundwater Deposits

The results of simulation of exploitation of the Sudogda groundwater field (Vladimir Region) were analyzed for the modern and predicted climate conditions, which reflect the preservation of the observed tendencies of changes in meteorological parameters for the next 25-year period. Comparison of the balance structure of water intake obtained by modeling has shown that the predicted climate changes will result in an increase in the portion of natural resources and to a decrease in the involved stream infiltration. The expected climate changes will cause slightly greater stream depletion under the effect of groundwater withdrawal, which will not have negative consequences, as it will be compensated by an increase in the transit river flow. The results of these studies reflect the effect of the observed and expected climate changes on the balance of water sources of groundwater fields in river valleys in the center of the European Russia.

Automatic Analysis of Food Intake and Meal Microstructure Based on Continuous Weight Measurements.

The structure of the cumulative food intake (CFI) curve has been associated with obesity and eating disorders. Scales that record the weight loss of a plate from which a subject eats food are used for capturing this curve; however, their measurements are contaminated by additive noise and are distorted by certain types of artifacts. This paper presents an algorithm for automatically processing continuous in-meal weight measurements in order to extract the clean CFI curve and in-meal eating indicators, such as total food intake and food intake rate. The algorithm relies on the representation of the weight-time series by a string of symbols that correspond to events such as bites or food additions. A context-free grammar is next used to model a meal as a sequence of such events. The selection of the most likely parse tree is finally used to determine the predicted eating sequence. The algorithm is evaluated on a dataset of 113 meals collected using the Mandometer, a scale that continuously samples plate weight during eating. We evaluate the effectiveness for seven indicators and for bite-instance detection. We compare our approach with three state-of-the-art algorithms, and achieve the lowest error rates for most indicators (24 g for total meal weight). The proposed algorithm extracts the parameters of the CFI curve automatically, eliminating the need for manual data processing, and thus facilitating large-scale studies of eating behavior.

Patterns of Protein Food Intake Are Associated with Nutrient Adequacy in the General French Adult Population.

Protein food intake appears to partially structure dietary patterns, as most current emergent diets (e.g., vegetarian and flexitarian) can be described according to their levels of specific protein sources. However, few data are available on dietary protein patterns in the general population and their association with nutrient adequacy. Based on protein food intake data concerning 1678 adults from a representative French national dietary survey, and non-negative-matrix factorization followed by cluster analysis, we were able to identify distinctive dietary protein patterns and compare their nutrient adequacy (using PANDiet probabilistic scoring). The findings revealed eight patterns that clearly discriminate protein intakes and were characterized by the intakes of one or more specific protein foods: ‘Processed meat’, ‘Poultry’, ‘Pork’, ‘Traditional’, ‘Milk’, ‘Take-away’, ‘Beef’ and ‘Fish’. ‘Fish eaters’ and ‘Milk drinkers’ had the highest overall nutrient adequacy, whereas that of ‘Pork’ and ‘Take-away eaters’ was the lowest. Nutrient adequacy could often be accounted for by the characteristics of the food contributing to protein intake: ‘Meat eaters’ had high probability of adequacy for iron and zinc, for example. We concluded that protein patterns constitute strong elements in the background structure of the dietary intake and are associated with the nutrient profile that they convey.

Impact of the structure and dose of protein intake on clinical and metabolic outcomes in critically ill children: A systematic review.

The aim of this study was to describe the effects of structure/type and total amount of protein intake on protein balance and clinical outcomes in critically ill children. We conducted a systematic review of relevant literature on Embase, PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Scopus, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences. A partial gray literature search was undertaken and the reference lists of the selected articles were searched manually. Observational and clinical trials that evaluated the total protein intake, structure of the protein source, or both, in critically ill children were included. Nitrogen balance and clinical outcomes (mortality, length of stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation) were the main outcomes of interest. We found 18 eligible studies, of which 17 assessed the quantity and one described protein structure in relation to the outcomes. In all, 2118 pediatric critically ill patients <18y of age were included. The total daily protein intake ranged from 0.67 to 4.7g/kg. Average daily total protein intake >1.1g/kg, especially >1.5g/kg, was associated with positive protein balance and lower mortality. In critically ill children, total daily protein intake >1.1g/kg was associated with positive effects on clinical outcomes and protein balance. The existing data are not sufficient for determining the optimal structure of protein delivered by enteral route in critically ill children.

Sub-system level numerical simulation investigation of the S-shaped inlet and the rear subsonic fan-stage

For investigating the evolution process of a half flush-mounted air intake exit distortion in the downstream flow field and also its effects on the fan-stage performance, sub-system level numerical simulation of the whole structure of the air intake and the fan-stage was carried out. Considering large boundary layer ingestion, a scheme that bleeding air from stator for blowing control in the front air intake was also proceeded. At the same time, both the single fan-stage with uniform air admission and the single airintake without fan-stage are researched for comparison. The results show that giving a real exit boundary or not has significant impact on the airintake numerical simulation results, especially to the circumferential total pressure distortion and the swirl distortion at the airintake exit. Due to large boundary layer ingesting, the aerodynamic performance of the fan-stage declines a lot. As comparing with the homogeneous air admission condition, the maximum isentropic efficiency and the choked mass flow of the fan-stage decrease about 4.17% and 1.31%, respectively. After bleeding air from the stator, the overall performance of the fan-stage changes significantly. It improves a lot when the fan-stage works between the maximum efficiency point and the stall margin while decreases under other conditions. The distorted low energy fluid from upstream always covers several passages as it goes through the fan-stage. And in the meanwhile, severe flow separation appears at suction side of stator blades, no matter the bleed air flow control executed or not. Impact of the design of the bleed air pipe on the control effect is large, and the best bleed air pipe for flow control is needed to further research in the future.

Development and validation of the Decisional Balance Scale for problematic Prescription Drug use (DBS-PD)-20

The purpose of this study was to develop a Decisional Balance Scale (DBS) for Prescription Drugs (PD), the DBS-PD-20, to examine its factorial structure and test its reliability and external validity by comparison across Stages of Change. A sample of 126 general hospital inpatients with either regular use of PD (more than 60days within the last three months) or abuse of or dependence on PD was recruited in a northern German city. Exploratory principal components analysis revealed a two-factor structure, the Pros and Cons of PD intake, as expected. While the DBS-PD-20 showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha=0.91 for the Pros and=0.89 for the Cons), external validity could be proven for the Cons (significant increase from precontemplation to contemplation/action), whereas the Pros showed an insignificant increase. Although further validation is needed, the DBS-PD-20 may be helpful for interventions and research.

Consumer segmentation based on the level and structure of fruit and vegetable intake: an empirical evidence for US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2006

To identify consumption patterns of fruit and vegetables within a representative sample of US adults with a focus on degree of produce processing and to explore sociodemographic, lifestyle and nutritional profiles associated with these patterns. Cross-sectional analysis. Fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption data were collected using two non-consecutive 24 h recalls. For the purpose of the study, F&V intakes were aggregated into seven subgroups indicating degree of processing, which afterwards were used as inputs into cluster analysis. The 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The sample consisted of 2444 adults aged 20-59 years. Total average F&V intake of the adults was below the recommended level. Thereby, 20 % of the respondents consumed fruit only in the form of juice. Three F&V consumption patterns were identified: 'low-intake F&V consumers' (74 % of respondents), 'consumers of healthier F&V options' (13 %) and 'intensive fruit juice consumers' (13 %). These groups differed markedly in terms of their sociodemographic, lifestyle and health characteristics, such as gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, smoking, weight status, etc. Differences in nutrient profiles were also found, with the 'consumers of healthier F&V options' showing better nutritional quality compared with other clusters. Only a small share of US adults combines high F&V intakes with healthier F&V options that lead to a better nutritional profile. This raises discussion about a need to deliver more specific F&V promotion messages, including advice on healthier preparation methods, especially for the specific population groups.

Genotype × nutrient association of common polymorphisms in obesity-related genes with food preferences and time structure of energy intake

Personal food preferences can either enhance or suppress the development of obesity and the selection and proportion of macronutrients in the diet seem to have a heritable component. In the present study, we therefore focused on dietary composition as a specific trait related to obesity and we determined whether genetic variations in leptin (LEP), LEP receptor (LEPR), adiponectin (ADIPOQ), IL-6 and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) underlie specific native food preferences and obesity-related anthropometric parameters. The total of 409 individuals of Czech Caucasian origin were enrolled into the present study and 7 d food records were obtained from the study subjects along with selected anthropometric measurements. In a subset of study subjects, plasma levels of ADIPOQ, LEP and soluble LEPR were measured. Independently of the BMI of the individuals, common variations in LEP and LEPR genes were associated with specific eating patterns, mainly with respect to timing of eating. The LEP + 19A/G polymorphism served as an independent predictor for BMI, percentage of body fat and skinfold thickness and significantly affected the time structure of the daily energy intake. The POMC RsaI polymorphism was associated with percentage of body fat. The ADIPOQ 45 T/G polymorphism was associated with the thickness of the subscapular skinfold. The LEPR Gln223Arg polymorphism was associated with multiple parameters, including diastolic blood pressure, meal sizes during the day and plasma ADIPOQ levels. In a separate analysis, soluble leptin receptor (sObR) plasma levels and LEP:sObR ratio were significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure (beta = - 0.66, P = 0.002; beta = - 1.23, P = 0.02) and sObR plasma levels also served as an independent predictor for diastolic blood pressure (beta = - 0.50; P = 0.04). To conclude, we report common allelic variants associated with specific feeding behaviour and obesity-related anthropometric traits. Moreover, we identified allelic variants that significantly influence the time structure of food intake during the day.

Evaluation of energy and macronutrient intake of black women in Bloemfontein: A cross-sectional study

There is growing evidence that urbanization of black South Africans is associated with changes in the structure of dietary intake. The urban diet is more diverse than the rural diet, and includes more animal foods, refined carbohydrates and fats, posing a potential risk to the health of urbanized populations. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to determine the macronutrient intake of non-pregnant, pre-menopausal black women living in Bloemfontein in South Africa. A representative group of 500 participants was randomly selected to participate. Women were divided into two age groups. Younger women were 25 - 34 years old and older women 35 - 44 years old. Macronutrient intake was determined using a validated Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (QFFQ). Median macronutrient intake was compared with the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRI) as applicable. Median energy, macronutrient and cholesterol intake of younger and older women was compared using non-parametric 95% confidence intervals (CI’s). P-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Median energy distribution of macronutrients was determined and compared with standard references. After being screened for eligibility, four pregnant women were excluded from the study, and 496 women qualified for participation. Median total energy, protein and carbohydrate intakes of all women exceeded the DRI. Median intakes of fibre were low, while median fat intakes were high. Younger women had significantly higher intakes of total fat (p = 0.034), saturated fat (p = 0.046) and PUFA (p = 0.015). Median energy distribution was 12% protein (both age groups), 32% fat (younger women) and 31% fat (older women) and 51% carbohydrates (younger women) and 53% carbohydrates (older women). The high median energy and macronutrient intakes may pose a potential risk for the development of chronic lifestyle diseases. The main focus of intervention should be to improve the quality of the diet, by decreasing fat intake and replacing this with fruit and vegetables. The benefits of a low glycaemic index and high fibre diet need to be emphasized.

A new way of looking at eating

the analysis of meals, especially of spontaneous meals, has long had a problematic place in the behavioral neuroscience of eating. Only a small minority of eating researchers now, or ever, have concerned themselves with meal patterns. On first glance this seems paradoxical. After all, eating occurs

Measuring meals: structure of prandial food and water intake of rats

Attempts to understand ingestion have sought to understand the control of meals. The present study evaluated a meal definition that included prandial drinking (drinking-explicit meals). The spontaneous nocturnal intake of male Wistar rats was studied. The meal breakpoint was defined as the interval between feeding or drinking events providing the most stable estimate of meal structure. Alternative breakpoints derived from prevailing methodology, log-survivorship, or frequency histogram analysis of interfeeding intervals without respect to drinking were compared (drinking-naive meals). Threshold interfeeding intervals that accounted for drinking indirectly were evaluated as surrogate breakpoints (drinking-implicit meals). Definitions were compared by determining which criterion better conformed to predictions of satiety. Microstructural differences resulting from the definitions were also studied. Under the drinking-explicit definition, rats averaged nine or ten 13-min meals/night, during which they consumed food and water equally in duration (5-6 min) and quantity (2.3 g). Individual differences were observed in microstructure measures. Meals defined by drinking-informed, but not drinking-naive, methods were followed by the behavioral satiety sequence and by an initially low likelihood of resuming feeding that monotonically increased with time. The drinking-explicit definition uniquely revealed preprandial and postprandial correlations of similar magnitude. Under drinking-informed definitions, food restriction increased meal size, whereas drinking-naive definitions increased meal frequency. Drinking-implicit definitions provided workable approximations of meal frequency and size but inferior estimates of feeding duration, eating rate, and the preprandial correlation. Thus log-survivorship analysis is not appropriate for identifying meal breakpoints, and the consideration of drinking in meal definitions can provide a better estimate of meal structure.

Flow field, turbulence and critical condition at a horizontal water intake

This paper presents a study on the flow structure and turbulence characteristics of a horizontal water intake. The geometry is a basic configuration that is instrumental in the validation of experimental and numerical procedures, which could then be developed to a more complex geometry with more complicated flow patterns. Parallel to the experimental investigations, a three-dimensional numerical code for the prediction of any gravitational turbulent flow has been developed. This code assumes a flat free surface, but allows pressure contours over it. The three velocity components and their fluctuations at different water depths inside the intake bay are measured with a laser Doppler anemometer. This is then used to show the transition from the approach channel to the pipe and its importance on the flow structure and critical condition. A notable feature is that the streamwise component of the velocity in the channel accelerates from upstream to reach the pipe velocity in a length that is limited to twice the pipe diameter. The turbulence intensity is an index that identifies positions where free surface and subsurface vortices may form. Measurements and predictions are possible for the critical condition and its corresponding water level. The notable observation is that critical condition in this symmetric intake occurs with no swirl at the free surface.