Water Use Research Articles

Green Building Certification in Educational Facility

Abstract This study evaluates energy saving in campus facilities toward green building certification by evaluating existing energy consumption, water consumption, and material usage. It supports the green building movement primarily from the education sector to respond to government regulations. The assessment was conducted through EDGE-App, an open-access building performance software developed by IFC, in the Integrated Creative Education Learning Laboratory (i–CELL) Building. EDGE-App calculates the energy savings in the building by comparing the difference between EDGE’s base case and the i-CELL building as the improved case. The variables calculated in this research are energy consumption, water conservation, and material recovery. This building performs 70% energy savings, 42% water savings, and 48% less embodied energy in materials—thus, it was granted an EDGE Advanced Green Building Certification. Furthermore, this study can inform engineers, designers, developers, and other parties about saving energy and optimizing water and recyclable materials in campus facilities.

Synthesis and Density Functional Theory Study on the Functionalization of Carbon Nanotube Conjugates with Amino Compounds and Their Application in Dyeing Processes

AbstractThis study investigates the functionalization of graphene nanotube (GNTs) conjugates with an amino compound called 1‐amino‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐naphthalene sulfonic acid (AHNSA‐GNTs). The study also evaluates the potential application of these conjugates in dyeing processes. The goal is to modify GNTs to enhance their interaction with dyes, thus improving the efficiency of dyeing textiles and the colorfastness of the resulting products. Multiple characterization methods, such as X‐ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were used to get a better look at the composites. The findings of the study indicate that AHNSA‐GNTs composites improve dye retention on wool fibers, which leads to a reduction in the consumption of excess dye and water. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations were utilized to investigate the electronic properties and binding energies of the functionalized CNTs, providing insights into the molecular interactions between the CNTs and amino compounds. Overall, this study highlights the promising applications of graphene nanotubes in sustainable textile processes. Frontier molecular orbitals (FMOs) and global reactivity descriptors serve as key tools for understanding the stability and chemical reactivity of compounds. These tools were used to calculate FMOs and electronic parameters of compounds 1 and 2 at the B3LYP/6‐31G(d) level of theory. The study examined the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)‐lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy gap, which provides insights into molecular stability and reactivity. Various physical properties were derived from these calculations, including electron affinity (EA) and ionization potential (IP) to LUMO and HOMO energies. Compound 2 emerged as the most efficient electron donor, possessing the highest HOMO energy, while compound 1 excelled as the best electron acceptor with the highest LUMO energy.

Properties of concrete with brick waste aggregate

The properties of concrete with brick waste aggregate are considered and it is established that as the amount of large aggregates - brick waste - increases, an increase in the water-cement ratio is observed. The mobility of concrete with a brick waste content of 50% corresponds to class P1, at 40% – P2, at 35% – class P3. Increased water consumption is necessary due to the effect of water absorption of porous brick chips, as well as maintaining the mobility of the concrete mixture, which changes significantly quickly over time. The initial settlement of the concrete mixture cone is 14–15 cm, after 40 minutes it decreases to 3–6 cm, and after 1 hour the mixture completely hardens. An increase in the content of coarse fillers leads to a decrease in the compressive strength of ceramic concrete. Thus, concrete samples with a filler content of 35% can be classified as class B27.5, samples with 40% – to B25, and 50% – to class B22.5. Electron microscopy was used to study the contact zone “cement stone – aggregate” on samples with crushed stone from brick waste and crushed granite aggregate. The results revealed that the adhesion strength of the aggregate to the cement stone is significantly higher than the strength of the aggregate itself, and the high surface roughness of lightweight secondary aggregates from broken bricks ensures good adhesion between the cement stone and the aggregate. In addition, the increased deformability of the aggregate reduces the negative impact on the shrinkage of cement stone, which has a positive effect on the structure of concrete, preventing the appearance of shrinkage microcracks.

Association between predicted level of water turnover deficit and all-cause and cause-specific mortalities among Japanese adults: The Japan Collaborative Cohort Study

BackgroundAlthough water is essential for maintaining health and life, the association between water turnover as an indicator of daily water requirement and water deficit and mortality is unclear. ObjectivesWe aimed to investigate this association in Japanese adults. MethodsA total of 63,488 (36,739 females and 26,749 males) Japanese aged 40–79 y in the Japan Collaborative Cohort Study in 1988–1990 were followed up their mortality through 2009. Water turnover was calculated considering lifestyle and environmental factors using an equation previously developed by the International Doubly Labeled Water Database Group. Participants were classified into sex-specific quintiles based on their water turnover. Water deficit levels were calculated from water turnover and dietary water consumption, which were estimated using a validated questionnaire. ResultsThe average daily water turnovers were 2950 and 3466 mL in females and males, respectively. During 19.4 years of median follow-up (1,039,914 person-years), 12,551 deaths were recorded. After adjusting for lifestyle and medical history, the bottom quintile was associated with higher hazard ratios (HRs) of mortality from all causes (females—HR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.41; males—HR: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.29) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In spline analyses, the water turnover range with the lowest HR for all-cause mortality was 3000–3300 mL/d in females and the water turnover at which the HR for all-cause mortality plateaued was ∼3500–3700 mL/d in males. Water deficiency levels were associated with all-cause and CVD-related mortality in both sexes. ConclusionsThe association between water turnover and deficit and all-cause and CVD-related mortalities (especially coronary artery disease and ischemic stroke) in adults is L-shaped. These findings may be useful for setting the target values of water requirement, and differences between dietary requirements and actual intake may bridge the knowledge gap in water–mortality associations.

Extending the theory of planned behavior to predict the behavior of farmers in choosing low-water-intensive medicinal plants

Water scarcity has become a serious challenge in many parts of the world due to increasing demands and the impacts of climate change. The agriculture sector globally accounts for a major portion of water consumption, yet it also holds substantial potential for water conservation. Among the most effective ways to conserve water is to cultivate low-water-demanding crops, such as medicinal plants (MPs), instead of water-demanding crops (WDC). However, the voluntary participation of farmers, largely influenced by socio-psychological drivers, is crucial for successfully implementing most water conservation programs and needs to be addressed. Therefore, the main objectives of this paper were: (1) to identify the determinants that explain farmers' intention and behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC; and (2) to examine the effectiveness and performance of an extended version of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) in predicting farmers' intention and behavior toward cultivating MPs by innovatively incorporating four new variables into the original TPB model: perceived barriers, moral norms, compatibility, and relative advantage. The applicability of the theoretical framework was evaluated in the Sojasroud Plain, Zanjan province, Iran. The results of the structural equation modeling revealed that: (1) farmers' intention to cultivate MPs instead of WDC is significantly influenced by perceived barriers, moral norms, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control (the strongest predictor); and (2) farmers’ behavior in cultivating MPs instead of WDC is predicted by relative advantage, compatibility, and intention (the most prominent determinant). The R2 values for predicting intention and behavior were 55% and 53%, respectively. Based on the results, some practical policies were proposed to increase the cultivation of MPs in the study area.

Motivos del consumo de agua embotellada en México y las percepciones del consumidor

The main objective of this research paper is to analyses the reasons for bottled water consumption in Mexico and consumer perceptions. It was conducted a systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Item for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA) and the STROBE Checklist. The study design was chosen because it involves the utilization of explicit and reproducible methods for searching, appraising and synthesizing information on the topic. Electronic searches were conducted via Web of Science and Scopus, with articles published between 1987 and 2022 being identified. The articles were then screened for relevance, applicability, validity, and reliability. The data extraction process involved the use of the Systematic Review Data Repository (SRDR). The tool is web-based and seminal in the extraction and management of data for systematic review. A total of 26 articles were identified which offered a historical review of bottled water consumption in Mexico. The articles cite that the spike in demand for bottled water is caused by organoleptic and health perceptions among the customers. The perceptions are traced back to the 1985 earthquake and cholera outbreak in 1991, which caused water scarcity and contamination issues. The research is novel, with a review of the articles showing there is an apparent dearth of knowledge with regards to the main reason why Mexico is the number one consumer of bottled water. The information presented is seminal in helping public administrators improve water supply service quality and customer satisfaction rates.

Internet of Thing (IOT) Based Sensor Technologies and Smart Irrigation System: An Analysis of Critical Success Factors in Emerging Markets

ABSTRACT: This study explores how smart irrigation systems can be improved by introducing advanced technologies and reducing water consumption to fight climate change. This study aims to identify the factors affecting the success of smart irrigation systems based on the Internet of Things with the mediation of optimal consumption management. This is an applied research employing mixed methodologies (qualitative-quantitative). Initially, the semi-structured interviews were carried out to obtain the effective success factors of the smart irrigation system. Analysis in the qualitative section has been conducted using the Maxqda software. For the quantitative study, a 25-statement questionnaire was applied according to the selected codes obtained with a five-point Likert scale to validate the obtained model. The questionnaire was distributed online in January 2023, and analysis was conducted using SmartPLS3 software. The technical aspects of the questionnaire were assessed using validity and reliability criteria, which can guarantee the precision of the research findings. Construct and content validity were employed in this study to examine the questionnaire’s validity. The researchers employed Cronbach’s alpha coefficient to evaluate the reliability of the measurement instrument. Besides, it can be said that the research instrument has acceptable reliability because obtained Cronbach’s alpha for all variables was greater than 0.70 and the questionnaire’s overall alpha was determined to be 0.810. Furthermore, the t-statistics for all research hypotheses is higher than 1.96 at the 95% confidence level. In this sense, the hypotheses of the research were confirmed. The Internet of Things and will change the nature of activities and services in the market. In fact, for emerging markets, the untapped and growing investment opportunities and the economic leap against the Internet of Things are so enticing and facilitating that it is impossible to resist. and neglecting it will cause irreparable damage to agility. Therefore, the success of the Internet of Things for emerging markets depends on the preconditions of integration of activities carried out by decision-making organizations, facilitation of regulations, and communication and interaction between relevant sectors, which should be considered a priority through cross-sectoral research.

Adsorption performance with field emission scanning electron microscopy of fruit peel induced Silver Nanoparticles in C16H18ClN3S for waste water treatment

There is a growing demand for cost-effective and sustainable technologies for treating wastewater as water consumption increases and conventional technologies become more expensive. Nanoparticles have a great deal of potential for use in the treatment of waste water. Their unique surface area allows them to effectively remove toxic metal ions, pathogenic microorganisms, organic and inorganic solutes from water. This study investigated the potential of orange and banana peels as renewable nano adsorbents for removing dyes and dissolved organic compounds from textile wastewater. Orange and banana peels are an optimal selection due to their favourable chemical characteristics, namely the presence of cellulose, pectic, hemicellulose, and lignin. Their capacity to adsorb diverse anionic and cationic compounds on their surface-active sites is attributed to their unique functional group compositions. Silver nanoparticles are able to adsorb heavy metals due to their exceptionally low electrical and thermal resistance and surface plasmon resonance. The samples were thoroughly characterised using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV–Visible spectrometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and XRD. The nanoparticles were prepared (10 gm,50 gm,100 gm) and subsequently introduced to the wastewater sample. The optical density values were recorded at various time points. The optical density values demonstrate a decline over the course of the experiment, with a notable decrease observed over time. The results of this study provide valuable insights into the efficacy of these natural adsorbents and their potential for sustainable water purification technologies. For the purpose of this research, high performance instrumentation methods were performed as follows:•Field emission scanning electron microscopy for surface morphology studies.•Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) for analytical technique that combines gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) to identify unknown substances or contaminants.•Optical density values were measured for different timings of degradation.

The spatio-temporal variations of cultivated land compensation efficiency and its influencing factors in mainland China

Cultivated land, for which compensation is a practical approach to safeguarding, is a strategic and scarce resource. Evaluating the cultivated land compensation efficiency and identifying its influencing factors are of great significance for monitoring the effect of such compensation and improving the associated policy. A new multi-dimensional framework for estimating the cultivated land compensation efficiency was proposed. This framework not only emphasized the externality of cultivated land but also incorporated its ecological value. Cultivated land compensation efficiency in mainland China from 2000 to 2021 was estimated using this framework and the global Super-SBM model. The panel Tobit model was also adopted to analyze the factors influencing cultivated land compensation efficiency. The results show that (1) Over the past 22 years, the cultivated land compensation efficiency in mainland China initially declined but subsequently exhibited an upward trend, maintaining an average value of 0.724. (2) On a spatial scale, the cultivated land compensation efficiency exhibited pronounced regional pattern, with higher levels observed in the northeastern and southwestern regions of mainland China and lower levels in the eastern region. The cultivated land compensation efficiency in different provinces has distinctive patterns as well. Generally, the cultivated land compensation efficiency is relatively stable in most provinces, though few illustrate an uptrend. (3) Both the ratio of the population with tertiary education and above to the total population and the ratio of primary sector production to GDP affect cultivated land compensation efficiency positively, with the former being more significant. Conversely, GDP per capita, agricultural water consumption, the area affected by disasters, and the ratio of local expenditure on science, technology and education to total fiscal expenditure affect cultivated land compensation efficiency negatively. Therefore, a set of recommendations has been put forward, encompassing the optimization of provincial inputs and outputs, the reinforcement of inter-provincial coordination and collaboration, and the expansion of the talent pool of funds.

Prevalence of opportunistic intestinal coccidian parasites and associated factors in HIV/AIDS patients attending anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study.

A growing number of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients suffer from opportunistic intestinal coccidian infections. Instead of human immuno deficiency virus (HIV) infection itself, opportunistic infections like intestinal coccidian parasites cause death of over 80% AIDS patients. Factors like exposed drinking water sources and poverty aid the prevalence of opportunistic intestinal coccidian parasitic infections in HIV/AIDS patients. The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of intestinal coccidian parasites and associated factors in HIV/AIDS patients. A health facility based cross sectional study was conducted from 140 HIV/AIDS patients attending ART clinic in Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia from September to December 2023. The sociodemographic characteristics were collected through face-to-face interviews. Stool samples were processed with Modified Acid Fast staining technique. Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 20 was used to analyze the data. Logistic regression was used to assess factors associated with dependent variable and p < 0.05 was considered significantly associated. The total prevalence of opportunistic intestinal coccidian parasites (OICPs) in HIV/AIDS patients was 16.4% (23/140). Drinking surface water [p = 0.015, COR = 3.4] compared to tape water, drinking alcohol [p = 0.001, COR = 18] compared to not drinking alcohol, diarrhea [p = 0.005, COR = 1] compared to non-diarrheic, drug dropout [p = 0.01, COR = 11] compared to regular drug intake and low CD4 count [p = 0.042, COR = 9] compared to CD4 > 500/µL showed significant association with increased prevalence of OICPs in HIV/AIDS patients. OICPs are still the common causes of morbidity and mortality in HIV/AIDS patients. Surface water consumption, alcoholism, interruption of treatment drugs, diarrhea, and reduced CD4+ T-cells significantly contribute to acquisition and prevalence of OICPs in HIV/AIDS patients. Routine screening of OICPs with sensitive diagnostic techniques in HIV/AIDS patients regardless of symptoms is crucial and has to be practiced in health settings.

Greenhouse gas equivalents and water consumption of product sample packaging in dermatology

Sampling refers to the free supply of small product samples. In this process, the packaging can be disproportionate to the contents leading to raw material consumption and, in the case of poor recyclability, environmental pollution. In this article, calculations regarding the ratio between packaging and product weight for commonly used types of packaging (sachet, tube, jar) of dermatological product samples are presented. The usefulness of sampling is discussed considering environmental and economic criteria. A total of 43 dermatological product samples from different manufacturers were manually weighed and classified. Packaging was disassembled into its structural components. The proportional weights or the weight of the bottle/tube body were calculated with database values for the respective material in terms of greenhouse gas equivalents (CO2eq) and freshwater consumption. Subsequently, atotal sum for the impact of each packaging was formed. Only the material and manufacturing process were considered because there were no valid data available for transport, utilization, and end of life (EoL) impacts. The smallest and lightest product sample (1.24 g) generated ca. 15 g CO2eq and approximately 700 ml of freshwater consumption. The largest and heaviest product sample (37 g) generated 53 g CO2eq and 5.78 l of freshwater consumption. Assuming an annual distribution of 10 million units of the 43product samples examined here, ca. 8000 t of CO2eq are produced by the packaging alone. Additionally, 880,000,000 l of water are used and approximately 2300 t of packaging waste are generated. Sampling shows an unfavorable ratio between CO2eq/water consumption and utility, especially in comparison to larger units of packaging. Millions of product samples are distributed annually in doctor's practices, hospitals and pharmacies, particularly in dermatology. The practice of sampling should be questioned both ecologically and economically.

Assessment of the water footprint of the brewery industry: The case of Heineken, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

The brewery industry is among the most water-intensive sectors, typically consuming 4–6 L of water for every liter of beer produced, necessitating a strong focus on water sustainability. Therefore, this study aimed to quantify the water footprint (WF) of the Heineken Ethiopian beer industry in Addis Ababa (Kilinto) over five consecutive years to identify water-intensive processes and areas. A stepwise accumulative and bottom-up approach was used to measure this WF, including calculations for both the final beer product and the spent grain byproduct. In 2019 and 2020, a significant portion of water consumption was attributed to spent grain extraction. By 2023, although the blue water footprint of both products remained within sustainable limits, more water was used in producing the final beer than in extracting spent grain. This suggests rapid improvements in water efficiency within the brewery, likely driven by effective water management practices such as leak detection and the use of water-efficient equipment and processes. The WF assessments also evaluated four sections of the brewery: utility, brewing, packaging, and general services. While utility, brewing, and packaging sections demonstrated improved water efficiency over time, the general services section saw a decrease. Given that general services are the most water-intensive area, prioritizing water management strategies in this section is crucial for overall sustainability.

A dataset of monthly potential evapotranspiration at ecological stations in arid central Asia from 2005 to 2020

The potential evapotranspiration represents the atmospheric evaporation capacity, which is an important indicator to measure the regional evaporation capacity, and also a key parameter to evaluate drought degree, the balance between supply and demand of water resources, and the water consumption of vegetation. Based on the meteorological data collected by 12 ecological field stations of Central Asia Ecosystem Monitoring Network and 11 ecological field stations of China Ecosystem Research Network in the arid region of Northwest China, and by using Penman-Monteith method recommended by FAO, the potential evapotranspiration was calculated from 2005 to 2020. This dataset has a long time series and covers a variety of ecosystem types. It can be used as basic data, model input data, simulation result verification data for drought research in Central Asia, and also provide data support for the research on the rational development and utilization of water resources, ecological environmental protection and other aspects in this region.

Assessing the suitability of groundwater resources based on farmers’ predicted intentions and human–water feedbacks

In this study, a behavioral −hydrological simulation modeling framework is developed to explore the functioning of human-water systems. The main objective is to identify the psycho-social factors affecting water conservation intentions among farmers, and then realize the interactions and bidirectional feedback between humans and water resources. For this purpose, the agent-based modeling (ABM) and extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) is recruited to reflect on the agents’ behaviors. As the first step, the framework of the extended TPB together with the agent behavior was designed via field researches through the completion of 169 questionnaires upon proportional-to-size (PPS) random sampling. The partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is then implemented, at the second step, to analyze the data and obtain the weights of the extended TPB constructs. The results reveal that the constructs supplemented to the TPB, including moral norms (MNs) and perceived risk (PR), could have significant effects on water conservation intentions and behaviors among farmers. At the last step, the farmers and their decision-making as the dynamic elements by obtaining feedbacks of water resources were modeled using the ABM. To evaluate the proposed framework, the recorded data of groundwater fluctuations and cultivated areas in the Lenjanat plain is utilized and compared with the socio-hydrological simulation modeling outcomes using the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) coefficient. Then, five scenarios are defined to shed light on the changes in the agent behavior on the aquifer suitability, including water consumption rate and groundwater levels in the aquifer. The results correspondingly demonstrated that merging the second and third scenarios in an effort to raise the prices of crops with low water need along with the increase in utility costs (here, water and electricity) could lead to a 75% increase of farmers’ income and a 21.5% reduction in the surface and groundwater uses in this region, implying the highest level of water conservation among other scenarios.

Bathymetric Map Production of Therthar Depression Basin and Water Storage Volume Estimation

Water crisis, drought, and desertification are prominent environmental issues facing many countries and threaten their sustainable development. Therthar depression basin in Iraq was selected as a study area. A new approach was adapted in producing a bathymetric map by merging contours derived from both topographic maps and digital elevation models using ArcGIS applications. Water storage volumes were estimated from 2017 to the end of 2023 using the trapezoidal rule. The results demonstrate that the maximum water storage volume was 80% of the total storage capacity in 2019. In 2021, this percent began to decrease significantly as a result of climatic changes until reached a dead storage about 40% in 2023. Large surface area of Therthar depression leads to increased evaporation and infiltration rates. The water consumption exceeded the incoming water storage by 5.292 billion cubic meters (bcm) in May and 13.127 bcm in October, between 2017 and 2023. The comparison between the estimated and actual live storage volumes resulted a root mean square error of 0.534 m and a coefficient of determination (R2) equals 0.871. However, to award off flood risks in rainy years, the study proposes increasing Therthar depression design elevation to 67 m rather than 65 m in proportion to Therthar arranger gate level.

Unfulfilled water impact forecasts, plans and projects

The article presents a retrospective review of some forecasts, plans and projects of anthropogenic impact on water resources that did not materialize, were not implemented by the planned date or were incomplete. Values of full (water intake) and irrevocable water consumption for 2000, predicted in the 1960s and 1970s by well-known domestic and foreign researchers, are compared with the actual water consumption in 2000 in the world, the USA, and our country. It is shown that most of water consumption forecast parameters turned out to be significantly higher than the actual one, which gives reason to consider these forecasts were not borne out. In the Water Strategy of the Russian Federation, developed in 2009 for the period up to 2020, these values were also significantly overestimated (by tens of percent). Incomplete implementation of various programs did not lead to the expected significant improvement in the water quality of rivers, including the Volga, and reservoirs in Russia. Such failed projects as NAWAPA in the USA and Canada, projects of interzonal redistribution of water resources in the USSR, projects of Nizhneobskaya and Turukhanskaya (Evenkijskaya) hydroelectric power plants, partially implemented projects of Cheboksary and Nizhnekamsk hydroelectric power plants, as well as a number of others are considered. Among the main reasons for unsuccessful forecasts, unfulfilled plans and projects are the lack of reliable data, incomplete knowledge about laws of nature and society development, financial problems, environmental demands, and the dramatically changed economic and political situation.

Assessment of Water Quality and its Risk to Human Health Posed by Drinking Water from Open Sources in Jammu and Kashmir

Globally, the quality of the water has been connected to health outcomes. This study assessed the community practices surrounding water collection and storage, the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of drinking water supplied by the public health division from the point of use to the source in Anatnag, and the risks to human health associated with water consumption. A water quality assessment was performed on one hundred samples. To find out how the community moves water from its source to its point of use and stores it, questionnaires were employed. The majority of the homes (73%) do not purify their water before consumption, and many of them reported frequent interruptions in the water supply. Although total coliform and E. coli were not found in the water samples taken at the reservoir's source, It was discovered that there was significant E. Col and total coliform contamination in the samples taken from the street taps and the domestic storage containers at the point of use. During the rainy season, higher levels of E. Coli and total coliform were found than during the dry season. The amounts of trace metals in the drinking water samples fell below the World Health Organization's and Indian Standards' acceptable limit. Drinking water through ingestion and cutaneous channels has noncarcinogenic effects that are assessed using hazard quotient toxicity potential and cumulative hazard index. These effects are less than unity, which suggests that there may not be a major non-carcinogenic health risk associated with water intake. sporadic disruptions to the water supply as well as specific methods of water storage and transit by residents of the community raise the possibility of contaminated water. We suggest that the province of Kashmir receive a more steady supply of treated water and that its citizens be instructed in hygienic methods for carrying and storing drinking water from the point of origin to the place of use

Skin Delivery and Innovative Carrier’s Effectiveness

The skin serves as the body first protecting barrier against the external attacks of chemicals and microorganisms. On the other hand, it is an obstacle to penetration and transdermal delivery of any substance applied on its surface. Thus, a need to report some news on the skin composition for a better understanding of the transdermal delivery mechanisms of topical products applied on its surface. Therefore, due to the actual increased use of topical drugs, cosmetics, and diet supplement treatments, further feasibility research studies have been carried out to extend the knowledge of the percutaneous absorption ‘rules and means. These studies are retained necessary to control the release through the skin layers of various selected active ingredients, loaded and carried out by different vehicles. The paper will focus on the effectiveness of innovative tissue carriers that, are able to deliver active ingredients throughout the skin layers, are made by a very low consumption of water, and are free of chemicals also. In conclusion, these novel eco-sustainable carriers, resulting skin- and environmentally friendly, might be used as innovative vehicles in substitution of the normal emulsions that, made by the use of preservatives, emulsifiers, fragrances, and other chemicals may often cause allergic and/or sensitization phenomena, consuming a great quantity of water also.

Properties and hydration mechanism of slow-setting and expansive cement based on CFB ash and slag

Aiming at the problems of long construction time and easy shrinkage cracking of pavement base, the slow-setting and expansive cement (SEC) was prepared using circulating fluidized bed ash and slag (CFBA and CFBS), S95 ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), and silica fume (SF) as supplementary cementitious material in this paper. By adjusting the content of supplementary cementitious material, the ratio of ash and slag, the performance of SEC was evaluated by the indexes of water consumption of standard consistency, setting time, flexural and compressive strength. The hydration products of mortar samples and the influence mechanism were studied by means of XRD, TG-DTG, FTIR, and SEM-EDS. The results showed that when the SF content was 6 %, the compressive strength of the mortar specimens reached its maximum (35.19 MPa) at 28 days, which increased by 23.04 % compared to the control group. Meanwhile, the free calcium oxide and gypsum in CFBA reacted under alkaline conditions to form ettringite (AFt) and C-S-H gel, which caused the volume expansion of cement and led to a decrease in shrinkage within the cement system. SEC has higher mechanical properties and much smaller shrinkage cracks than ordinary cement. Therefore, replacing part of the cement by solid waste such as CFBS to prepare SEC to compensate for the shrinkage of the pavement base is an effective way to reduce pavement cracking.

Why does afforestation policy lead to a drying trend in soil moisture on the Loess Plateau?

Soil moisture is a key factor for vegetation restoration in arid and semi-arid regions. Clarifying the vertical characteristics of soil moisture in artificial forests on a regional scale and its response mechanisms can benefit for land use management in water-deficient areas such as the Loess Plateau. The study targets Robinia pseudoacacia on the Loess Plateau with a meta-analysis based on 790 soil moisture data points abstracted from 35 published papers. The results show that extensive cultivation of R pseudoacacia on the Loess Plateau leads to a significant reduction in soil moisture (P < 0.05). Soil moisture decreases significantly with growth of trees, especially between 400 and 500 cm soil layers. Soil moisture increases with the hydrothermal gradient. The results indicate that intensive afforestation activities in high temperature and rainy areas still significantly consume deep soil moisture. The main reason is that the impact of hydrothermal factors on soil moisture is significant between 0 and 200 cm soil layers and decreases with increasing soil depth. However, the continuous depletion of deep soil moisture leads to insignificant differences in soil moisture responses under different topographical conditions in the region. Therefore, neglecting the impact of forest age and hydrothermal factors on soil moisture in afforestation activities, the excessive water consumption by R pseudoacacia during growth poses potential risks to the ecological environment of the Loess Plateau. This study provides references for knowledge on water relating problems and sustainable management of artificial forests in arid and semi-arid areas.