Bowl Of Water Research Articles

Effect of Stray and High Voltage Exposure on Livestock: An Overview

Electricity is essential to dairy farming and electrically powered machines are used for milking, automatic feed dispensers and heated water bowls. Leakage of current from these equipments, high voltage lines or faulty connections between the electrical circuit and the earth can lead to an undesirable electrical phenomenon called stray voltage. Stray voltage is a small voltage (<10V) that can be measured between two possible contact points. Cows can sense voltages at approximately one-tenth of a human being. Humans have inherently higher body resistance than cows and generally have shoes or boots while working in barns, which further increases resistance. Consequently, humans do not feel what animals feel. Stray voltages less than 0.5 volts are considered normal. Stray voltages vary, depending on the circuits used and the amount of moisture in the soil around the grounding rod. Impact of stray currents on livestock at current 1 - 3 mA: At current 4 - 6 mA: common behavioral response such as flinching or delaying drinking water. At current > 6 mA (up to 10): Feed intake is reduced, resulting in lower meat and milk production. Common symptoms of stray voltage in cows include hesitation to enter the parlor, they may stampede or rush out of the parlor when released, cows dance or step around constantly while in the milking parlor, Normal milk letdown is interrupted, Increased milking time, Udder irritation caused by residual milk and increased somatic cell count which increases the incidence of mastitis.

PSIII-2 Evaluation of medium-chain fatty acids on just-weaned piglet performance and diarrhea scores: A nursery trial

Abstract Weaning is one of the most stressful events for commercial pigs. The transition from mother’s milk (animal proteins) to a solid diet based on plant proteins, the reduction in lactose intake and the decline in HCl secretion by the digestive system of the piglet result in a sudden and significant increase in stomach pH as well as an increased risk of post-weaning diarrhea. The aim of this trial was to evaluate whether the use of a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) on top-off conventional nursery diets would improve zootechnical performance and intestinal problems in just-weaned piglets. Piglets [n = 624, 21-d of age, 6.5 kg body weight (BW), (♂ Fast Duroc x ♀ Fast 275)] were housed in 26 pens of an experimental nursery. Each pen (24 pigs/pen, with a starting density of 3.0 ft2/pig) was equipped with a height-adjustable water sucker, a water bowl and fitted with a single feeder-bin. Females and males were allocated to each pen, according to 3 BW categories (heavy, medium, and light). During a 46-d period of trial, the piglets (13 replicated pens per treatment) were allotted to a conventional 5 phases feeding program with 2 kg/MT of chlortetracycline (22%) and 400 g/MT of tiamuline (1.78%; CON). These basal diets contained 2,500 ppm Zn in Phases #1, 2, and only 2,000 ppm Zn in phase #3. Phases #1 to 3 were also supplemented with Ca-butyrate (1 kg/MT) and a blend of protected acidifiers (1 kg/MT). The treated group consisted to the basal diet (CON) supplemented with a blend of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) at 1.0 or 0.75 kg/MT for Phases #1, 2,3 and Phases #4, 5, respectively and supplying of a proprietary blend of caprylic, capric, and lauric acids. Daily feed consumption, weekly pig pen BW, dead and removed pigs and daily diarrhea evaluation index were completed. Data are analyzed by an ANOVA model including treatment and pen as fixed and random effects, respectively. Pairwise comparisons were completed with a Chi-square test. The overall results are presented in Table 1. At the end of wk 2 and 3, animals receiving MCFAs had a better average daily gain (ADG; P < 0.05) than CON. Therefore, at wk 2, 3 and 4, MCFAs animals BW were heavier than CON ones (P < 0.05). Average daily feed intake (ADFI) was not significantly different for the overall duration of the trial (P > 0.05). However, at weeks 2 and 3, MCFAs piglets had a greater ADFI than CON ones (P < 0.05). The daily diarrhea index of the MCFAs group was less than CON at wk 3 (P < 0.05). In this trial, the significant improvement of diarrhea index on just-weaned MCFAs treated piglets could explain the significant better growth during the first 3 wk of nursery.

Automatic Pet Feeder Using Assistant

Nowadays most of us fascinated to have pets at their home. But these pets have to be taken care properly. Their feeding on time is an important task as they become part of our family. But in our busy schedule we fail to pay attention on our pet thus it doesn’t get proper food on time. This paper addresses the above issue by introducing an Automatic Pet Feeding System to ensure feeding pet on frequent interval of time. In our project we used two methods to feed the Pet, one is by Camera and another by using Google Assistant. When the DC servo motor runs, the motor rotates the propeller which is in the feeding device, which drops down pet food through the pipe into perforated feeding bowl. The water pump will be kept in a tank containing water. When the water pump runs, the water is pumped into the water bowl of pet. The user in order to feed their pet have to give a command on their Smart Phones such as “Okay Google”, “Feed my Pet”, with the help of this command the machine will do its following work. The user can also specify the time to feed their pet on schedule using Google Assistant

Engraving, Brocade And Decoration In The Poetry Of Lisan Aldeen Ben Al-Khatedeb

تناول هذا البحث النَّقش والرَّقم والطَّرز في شعر لسان الدين بن الخطيب، والنقش هو ما كان في الرّخام والخشب، أما الرَّقم والطَّرز، فيكونان في الجلود والثياب عامّة وغيرهما، وأكثر أشعار لسان الدين بن الخطيب الخاصة بهذا الموضوع الشعريّ، جاءت منقوشة في جدران القصور وقبابها، وطيقان الماء، ومنها ما رُقمت في حمّالات السيوف، أو طُرزت في سفرة طعام أو ثوب، وسيفصل البحث هذا الموضوع

Tratamiento y determinación de la presencia de Helicobacter en perros de refugio mediante pruebas de antígenos en heces y ensayo inmunoenzimático

In order to determine the presence of Helicobacter in shelter Dogs in Yozgat Province of Türkiye by fecal antigen test and ELISA and to treat the infection during the initial period. As the material of the study, faecal antigen test, faecal samples for ELISA, blood samples for haematological and biochemical analyses were collected from 82 dogs in Sorgun animal shelter where food and water bowls were kept in compartments. Infected and control groups were formed according to the results of the fecal antigen test. As a result of fecal antigen test, 6 of 82 animals were antigen positive and 76 were antigen negative. According to ELISA analysis; 53 dogs were antibody positive and 29 dogs were antibody negative. No significance was determined between the groups in terms of age and gender in both tests (P>0.05). Dogs in the infected group were treated according to a protocol known as triple therapy, which is used in Helicobacter infections. WBC, NEU and MON counts, RDW and % NEU values of the infected group were higher in the hematological examination, while the % LYM values were significantly lower than the control group. In the biochemical examination, the concentrations TNF–α (21.17 pg·mL-1 vs. 48.21 pg·mL-1), IL–1β (73.41 pg·mL-1 vs. 37.60 pg·mL-1) (P<0.01) and CRP (644.0 mg·dL-1 vs. 234.01 mg·dL-1) (P<0.001) were found to be higher than those of the control group. As a result, it was determined in the study that the presence of Helicobacter was intense in dogs that were in one–to–one contact with each other, including the feeding of dogs in shelter conditions. With the methods used in the study, it is predicted that the presence of Helicobacter can be detected and treated in the early stages, thus preventing transmission of Helicobacter in dogs.

Insight into antimicrobial resistance at a new beef cattle feedlot in western Canada.

A better understanding of how environmental reservoirs of ARGs in the feedlot relate to those found in animal pathogens will help inform and improve disease management, treatment strategies, and outcomes. Monitoring individual cattle or small groups is invasive, logistically challenging, expensive, and unlikely to gain adoption by the beef cattle industry. Wastewater surveillance has become standard in public health studies and has inspired similar work to better our understanding of AMR in feedlots. We derived our insights from sampling water bowls in a newly established feedlot: a unique opportunity to observe AMR prior to animal arrival and to monitor its development over 2 months. Importantly, the bacterial community of a single water bowl can be influenced by direct contact with hundreds of animals. Our results suggest that water bowl microbiomes are economical and pragmatic sentinels for monitoring relevant AMR mechanisms.

Anthrax toxins-producing Bacillus spp. isolated from handwashing stations during COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria.

The virulence binding factor, protective antigen (pag) and poly-D-γ-glutamate capsular (cap) genes, peculiar to Bacillus anthracis are located in the pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids which are transferable horizontally to related species called "cereus group". The cereus group are usually isolated from the environmental/food samples and have been implicated in debilitating human and animal anthrax-like diseases. This study was designed to investigate the presence of the anthrax virulence genes in different Bacillus spp. isolated from handwashing facilities during COVID-19 pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria. The Bacillus anthracis (OK316847), B. thuringiensis (OK316855), B. amyloliquefaciens (OK316857), B. cereus (OK316858) and B. thuringiensis (OK316859) previously isolated from rinsates and bowl water in two local government areas (LGAs) of Lagos state were further investigated by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the pag and cap genes using specific primers. Bacillus anthracis and B. cereus co-harboured the two 578 bp cap and 364 bp pag genes while B. thuringiensis only harboured the cap gene. Similarly, the non-cereus B. amyloliquefaciens was found to habour the pag gene. The two anthrax toxin genes were amplified in the Bacillus spp isolated from rinsates and bowl water used in hand washing in the two study LGAs. Given that these virulence genes have a global consequence and are a potential threat to life, this study calls for an extensive surveillance, and reassessment of gene regulators and plasmid distribution among these strains in our environment.

Perception and usage of short-term prednisone and prednisolone in dogs.

Corticosteroids are widely used with low rates of reported side effects and a broad level of comfort in the hands of most veterinarians. With a low side effect reporting level of < 5% and high level of comfort there may be complacency and underestimation of the impact side effects of corticosteroids may have on a pet and pet owner. The objective of this clinical study was to describe the experience and perception of an owner who administered anti-inflammatory doses of oral prednisolone and prednisone to their dog for up to 14days. We hypothesized dogs receiving anti-inflammatory doses of prednisone and prednisolone would experience much greater rates of side effects by day 14 then reported in current literature. There were 45 dogs initially enrolled in the study. At each study point, 31 owners provided results. On day 5, 74% (23/31) reported at least 1 change in their dog's behavior including polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, polypnea and/or increased vocalization, with 11 individuals (35%) reporting these changes greatly increased. On day 14, 90% of owners (28/31) reported at least 1 change in their dog's behavior including polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, and/or polypnea as the most common changes noted. Overall, 61% (19/31) of owners reported an increase in filling of the water bowl over baseline and one-third (11/31) of pet owners reported cleaning up urinary accidents for pets who had been continent prior to the start of the study. Pet owner steroid satisfaction remained high through day 14 at 4.5/5 (1 = very unsatisfied, 5 = very satisfied). This study highlights the impact short term anti-inflammatory doses of prednisone or prednisolone have on dog behaviour and confirms our hypothesis that by day 14, 90% of dogs experienced one or more behaviour changes, with polyuria and polydipsia most commonly reported. Adverse events were noted regardless of starting dosage or regimen. Although most pet owners expressed satisfaction with steroid treatment due to its high efficacy, 70% would select a more costly treatment if that treatment had fewer side effects.

Investigation of the effect of water temperature on water consumption of cats

Cats can naturally obtain their water requirements on the water content of their food. The wild cats usually do not need to drink water, because their prey (e.g., birds, small rodents, insects) contains about 70-75% body water. The same situation is applied for domestic cats too, which eat canned wet food that contains high level of water. However, if the water level of the diet is less than 60%, cats need additional drinking water. A mature cat must consume 60ml/kg/day water to maintain its body functions without any problem. Otherwise cats will be easily dehydrated and chronic dehydration can lead some health problems such as bladder and renal diseases and circulatory problems. Any practical method that could increase cats water consumption, would have a reducing effect on the before mentioned diseases.&#x0D; Regarding the water consumption, the taste of water has been found as effective as the other physiological stimulants such as mouth dryness, plasma osmolality and blood volume. Temperature is considered to be very important for the taste perception of animals. The preference for the water temperature varies among the animal species. &#x0D; So we hypothesized that, cooling the drinking water can encourage cats to drink more water and we aimed to investigate the effect of the water temperature on water consumption of cats. &#x0D; This research has conducted with 8 domestic, mature and healthy pet cats (Felis domesticus) that live indoor. We measured the water consumption of cats for two weeks. During the first week, temperature of water has not been intervened, and the cats' normal water consumption were measured. On the 1st day, 500 ml water, measured with graduated cylinder, was provided in a standard water bowl. After 24 hours, the remained water has been measured and noted. After each measurement, cat owners refreshed the drinking water. In the 2nd week, we started to add four ice cubes to the water bowl, three times in a day. First week, cat’s average normal water consumption has found 142,26±8,09 ml/kg/day. (p

Pre-slaughter, slaughter and post-slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers in Southeast, Nigeria: Animal welfare, meat quality, food safety and public health implications.

Pre-slaughter stress or the welfare condition of food-producing animals (FPAs) and the slaughter practices of slaughterhouse workers (SHWs) are critically important for the safety and quality of meats processed in slaughterhouses (SHs). Consequently, this study determined the pre-slaughter, slaughter, and post-slaughter (PSP) practices of SHWsin four SHs in Southeast, Nigeria; and discussed the impacts on meat quality and safety. The PSP practices were determined by observation method. Additionally, a structured and validated closed-ended questionnaire was used to determine the knowledge of the SHWs on: the effects of poor welfare (preslaughter stress) on the quality and safety of meats produced, carcass/meat processing practices and modes of transmission of meat-borne zoonotic pathogens during carcass/meat processing. Finally, a systematic post-mortem inspection (PMI) was conducted on cattle, pigs and goats slaughtered, and economic losses accruable from condemned carcasses/meats were estimated. Food-producing animals were transported to the SHs or held in the lairage under inhumane conditions. A pig being conveyed to one of the SHs was seen gasping for air, as it was firmly tied on motorbike at the thoracic and abdominal regions. Fatigued cattle were forcefully dragged on the ground from the lairage to the killing floor. Cattle for slaughter were restrained, held in lateral recumbency and left groaning, due to extreme discomfort, for about one hour before slaughter. Stunning was not performed. Singed pig carcasses were dragged on the ground to the washing point. Although more than 50% of the respondents knew the modes of transmission of meat-borne zoonotic pathogens during meat processing, 71.3% of the SHWs processed carcasses on bare floor, 52.2% used same bowl of water to wash multiple carcasses while 72% did not wear personal protective equipment during meat/carcass processing. Processed meats were transported to meat shops in an unsanitary conditions, using open vans and tricycles. During the PMI, diseased carcasses/meats/organs were detected in 5.7% (83/1452), 2.1% (21/1006) and 0.8% (7/924) of the cattle, pig and goat carcasses inspected, respectively. Gross lesions pathognomonic of bovine tuberculosis, contagious bovine pleuro-pneumonia, fascioliasis and porcine cysticercosis were detected. Consequently, 391,089.2 kg of diseased meat/organs valued at 978 million Naira (235, 030 USD) were condemned. There were significant associations (p < 0.05) between educational level and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during slaughterhouse operations and knowledge that FPAs can harbour zoonotic pathogens (p = < 0.001) transmissible during carcass processing. Similarly, significant association was observed between working experience and use of PPE; and between geographical location of the respondents and knowledge that zoonotic pathogens in animals are transmissible during carcass processing or via the food chain. The findings show that slaughter practices of SHWs have detrimental impacts on the quality and safety of meats processed for human consumption in Southeast, Nigeria. These findings underscore the need to: improve the welfare condition of slaughter-animals, mechanise abattoir operations, train and retrain the SHWs on hygienic carcass/meat processing practices. There is a need to adopt strict enforcement of food safety laws to promote meat quality, food safety and consequently promote the health of the public.

Microbial Contents and Antibiotics Susceptibilities from Hand Washing Stations during COVID-19 Pandemic in Lagos, Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic put every government in the globe on red alert; safety protocol and long-standing infection prevention and control (IPC) measures such as hand and oral hygiene, social/ physical distancing, use of face mask were rigorously enforced. This study evaluated microbial (bacterial, fungal) contents of rinsate, bowl water, water from tap, and the neighborhood drainage in selected hand washing stations in Agege, Alimosho, Mainland, Island and Shomolu local government areas (LGAs) in Lagos, Nigeria. The identities of bacterial isolates were confirmed with 16S rRNA sequencing while the fungi were identified by colonial appearances. The antibiotics susceptibility testing (AST) of the bacteria against structurally unrelated antibiotics was performed and interpreted according to standard guidelines. Sixty-seven (67) bacterial and fifty-one (51) fungal isolates were recovered from mainly water bucket with tap and rinsates across all the LGAs. There were marked microbial loads (some too numerous to count at 10-3 dilution) across Alimosho, Lagos Island and Mainland. Forty (40) representative bacterial isolates were selected for 16S rRNA sequencing. The occurrence of microbial isolates in the samples was at varying degrees; Klebsiella spp. (37.5%), Bacillus spp. (32.5%), Enterobacter spp. (17.5%), were the predominant bacteria while Aspergillus spp. (46.2%), yeasts (34.6%), Sporothrix schenckii (11.5%) and Penicillium spp. (7.7%) constituted the fungal isolates. The biological weapon, B. anthracis was recovered from a water bucket with tap in Alimosho. The antibiotics susceptibility testing of the bacteria showed high degrees of resistance profile; 45 (69.2%) to ampicillin, 41.5% amoxicillin/clavulanate while 47.6% were resistant to two (2) or more antibiotics. This study demonstrated high microbial load during the pandemic at the study LGAs, presence of environmental commensals reputed for debilitating opportunistic infections in man and risk of passing heavy load of these potential pathogens to the public.

Food hygiene and food safety practices of households in a township north of Tshwane, Gauteng.

Foodborne illness is still a major public health concern worldwide. Most cases of foodborne illness can be traced to the home. The food safety practices of food handlers in the household are an important determining factor in food safety at the household level. To assess the food safety practices of food handlers in households in Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane. The study was conducted in zones 1-9 and zone 16, as well as extension 25 of Ga-Rankuwa, Tshwane. A quantitative descriptive study design was used for which a structured questionnaire was administered among 339 food handlers. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was performed in STATA 13.1. The majority of food handlers reported always washing their hands before (81%) and after handling raw meat, chicken or fish; the majority of food handlers (69%) reported always washing preparation surfaces and utensils with clean, soapy water after handling raw meat, chicken or fish. Less than half (45%) of food handlers reported never thawing frozen meat, chicken or fish in a bowl of cold water. The food handlers reported appropriate food safety practices regarding hand washing and food preparation surfaces and utensils. However, their practices regarding the storage of meat, chicken and fish were inappropriate. This study builds on the existing body of literature on the food safety practices of food handlers. Moreover, the study findings can serve as a basis for the development of interventions to ensure food safety at a household level.

Applying Commemorative Museum Pedagogy to Public Music Studies

Applying Commemorative Museum Pedagogy to Public Music Studies

Thirst protects cottonmouths from infection

2022 has been an extraordinarily dry year for some regions of the planet. Rivers are running low, reservoirs are shrinking and animals are going thirsty. However, drought is a routine part of life for the cottonmouth (Agkistrodon conanti) population of Snake Key, off the Florida coast, USA. ‘The islands of the Cedar Keys are recently formed relic sand dunes and recent patterns of sea level rise in the northern Gulf of Mexico suggest the islands have been isolated from the mainland for 3500–4500 years’, says Mark Sandfoss from the University of Florida, USA. With access only to rainfall, the snakes often go thirsty. However, Sandfoss and Harvey Lillywhite, also from the University of Florida, had a hunch that the snakes may gain some benefit from their dehydrated lifestyle. ‘Recent studies have found that as reptiles become dehydrated, the ability of their immune system to protect them from disease improves’, says Sandfoss. Could the same hold true for the castaway cottonmouths?Sandfoss headed over to Snake Key in search of the marooned vipers. ‘They conceal themselves under vegetation but often gave themselves away by attempting a quick strike at a passing boot. This is both helpful and unsettling’, chuckles Sandfoss. He picked up each animal with a snake hook before securing it in a bucket and collecting a tiny blood sample, ‘which requires incredible trust in the person holding the venomous snake while I draw blood from the tail’, Sandfoss admits. With the blood sample in hand, he transported the snakes back to the lab where he offered them a drink to find out how dehydrated they were, weighing them to monitor their mass gain as they took on water to quench their thirst. In addition, François Brischoux (La Rochelle Université, France) checked the animals’ corticosterone levels – a hormone which usually rises when animals are thirsty – to find out how stressed they were.Sure enough, the Snake Key cottonmouths were more dehydrated (with a blood plasma concentration of 344.1 mosmol kg−1) and keener to drink than well-hydrated cottonmouths (309.1 mosmol kg−1 blood plasma concentration) from a nearby marshy wildlife reserve at Paynes Prairie, FL, USA. In addition, the thirsty Snake Key cottonmouths were more stressed than the Paynes Prairie snakes. Yet, when the team tested how well primed the snakes’ blood was to fight an infection, the island snakes were no better prepared than their mainland cousins. But would the snakes’ immunity alter as their thirst levels changed?This time, Sandfoss transported 17 snakes back to the lab (eight from Snake Key and nine from the mainland) providing the animals with an unlimited water supply to ensure that they were well hydrated before testing how their immune system attacked a fake infection. Then, he removed the reptiles’ water bowls until they had lost one-fifth of their body mass – they were thirsty, but not dangerously so – before rechecking the strength of their immune system. Finally, he returned their water bowls and allowed the animals to slake their thirst before retesting their immunity 48 h later.Both the thirsty Snake Key and mainland snakes produced powerful immune responses after losing 20% of their mass in water. Dehydration made the snakes more resistant to infection, although the strength of the snakes’ immune response returned rapidly to normal after a long drink. Even though the Snake Key snakes routinely experience thirst, they are no more immune to infection when deprived of water than their mainland cousins. And it is becoming increasingly essential that we understand how reptiles react when their waterholes dry up as climate patterns continue shifting and animals face greater environmental uncertainty.

Wax and wane: a case study of Flying Colours

Learning outcomes At the end of the case study discussion, students will able to state the importance of outsourcing with comparing pros and cons in business decision-making; review the value bestowed to the community in using sustainable raw material while at the same time conserving the ancient style of artwork particular to the area; discuss the utility of the products manufactured by “Flying Colours,” especially for the lockdown period which was because of the pandemic; and demonstrate and interpret the use of shark and mosquito bite matrix. Case overview/synopsis Arun Kumar Patni, 47, and his wife Neelima Patni, 43, are co-founders of Flying Colours, a start-up company based in Jaipur, in the state of Rajasthan, India. Their enterprise was engaged in the manufacturing and marketing of bird products and accessories, including bird feeders, bird houses, earthen water bowls, etc. In July 2020, post-lockdown, they were desperate to hire carpenters to restart their factory. However, COVID-19 posed a serious challenge, making it very difficult to replace their skilled carpenters, who had returned to their native places and had not come back. This disrupted production and order fulfilment. Keeping this situation in perspective in anticipation of the continuing pandemic crisis, Neelima was in favour of outsourcing basic production and designing the birdfeed decoration and artwork in-house. Meanwhile, Arun instead favoured continuing full in-house production as before, by hiring replacement carpenters. Yet for an in-house full-scale production, procuring raw material was a difficult task because of the lockdown. The situation had earlier taken a turn for the worse when Arun had advertised an exchange marketing policy to let customers return their old bird feeders for a 20% discount on a new one. This campaign was a huge success and resulted in a sales spike but unfortunately it caused a huge stock of returned products in their warehouse. Arun initially planned to repair and resell them as refurbished products. It now seemed impossible, because local carpenters demanded higher labour charges than the regular carpenters did. Flying Colours had provided skills workshops and hired external trainers to train unskilled carpenters prior to lockdown, so now all the training investment was in vain. Cash liquidity, sales, marketing, etc. were almost at a standstill. Complexity academic level This case particularly focuses on undergraduate-level students pursuing business or commerce programs, especially those studying core course: Entrepreneurial Strategic Management. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 3: Entrepreneurship.

Bound to the Land: Cove Fort in Kesler Family History and Memory

Bound to the Land: Cove Fort in Kesler Family History and Memory

Reducing the particles generated by flushing institutional toilets

Airborne particles play a significant role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. A previous study reported that institutional flush-O-meter (FOM) toilets can generate 3–12 times as many droplets as other toilets by splashing (large droplets) and bubble bursting (fine droplets). In this study, an aerosol suppression lid was evaluated to measure the reduction of particles by size using three metrics; number, surface area, and mass concentrations. To quantify toilet flush aerosol over time, detailed particle size distributions (from 0.016–19.81 µm across 152 size bins) were measured from a FOM toilet in a controlled-environment test chamber, without ventilation, with and without use of the suppression lid. Prior to each flushing trial, the toilet bowl water was seeded with 480 mL fluorescein at 10 mg/mL. A high-speed camera was used to record the large droplet movements after flushing. An ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer was used to analyze the wipe samples to evaluate the contamination on the lid. The particle number, surface area, and mass concentrations without a lid were elevated compared to a lid in the first 90 sec. Overall, the lid reduced 48% of total number concentration, 76% of total surface area concentration, and 66% of total mass concentration, respectively. Depending on the particle size, the number concentration reduction percentage ranged from 48–100% for particles larger than 0.1 µm. Large droplets created by splashing were captured by the high-speed camera. Similar studies can be used for future particle aerodynamic studies. The fluorescein droplets deposited on the lid back sections, which were closer to the FOM accounted for 82% of the total fluorescein. Based on two-way ANOVA analysis, there were significant differences among both the experimental flushes (p = 0.0185) and the sections on the lid (p = 0.0146). Future work should explore the aerosolization produced by flushing and the performance of the lid in real restroom environments, where feces and urine exist in the bowl water and the indoor ventilation system is in operation.

Lactobacillus plantarum as Bio-Control Agent during Egg Incubation of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) – Effects on Microbial Loads and Water Quality Parameters

This study evaluated the heterotrophic bacteria and fungi loads and water quality parameters when Lactobacillus plantarum was employed as bio-control agent during egg incubation of Clarias gariepinus. The L. plantarum cells were inoculated into incubating water in 6-litre bowl at bacterial concentration of 2×103, 2×106 and 2×109 cfu L-1. Bowls with 1 ppt tetracycline solution and with no test bacteria / drug served as positive and negative controls respectively. 3 g of C. gariepinus fertilized eggs were incubated in these bowls under static water condition for 30 hours at room temperature, after which hatchability was determined. The water in each bowl was analyzed before, during and after egg incubation. The results indicated that all L. plantarum treatment groups recorded significantly (p&lt;0.05) reduced Enterobacteriaceae and fungi counts in the incubating water, with the optimum concentration recorded at 2×106 cfu L-1. There were significant reductions (p&lt;0.05) in the dissolved oxygen and pH of water at 30 hours of incubation when compared with the values obtained at 10 hour of incubation in all experimental groups. The fertilized eggs hatched in all treatment groups except those inoculated with 2×109 cfu L-1 L. plantarum, while hatchlings from positive control (tetracycline solution) groups were observed to be less viable than the probiotic-treatment and negative control (non-probiotic treatment) groups. It can be concluded from this study that addition of 2×106 cfu L-1 of L plantarum into incubating water reduced microbial loads, but did not improve water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen and pH) and hatchability of C. gariepinus eggs.

Water as a Symbol of the Great Dao: Literature, Philosophy, Science

Water as a Symbol of the Great DaoLiterature, Philosophy, Science Abraham S. Y. Poon (bio) Words are used as tools in literature, and literature is a form of art. Writers use different types of literary styles and various artistic organization of words in their texts to realize their thoughts. Different types of Chinese literature were popular in different dynasties, such as Han rhapsodies (fu 賦), Tang poems (shi 詩), Song verses (ci 詞), Yuan opera (qu 曲), Ming novels (xiaoshuo 小說), and more. All works not only provide historical accounts but also offer valuable insights on the worldview, values, and sentiments of the people. The intention of all these literary works is to express or present the will of the author, provide portrayal, satire, explanation, or reasoning through textual interpretation. Many of them use water as a key image in various modes and dimensions. Looking at the beauty of the various states of water from the outside, one finds that it is supple and graceful. Going beyond that, it also inspires people’s imagination and the expression of emotion. Writing with water metaphors can induce readers to have associations of flow and harmony. Not only is there a dynamic feeling, but the volatility of water can affect people’s thinking. For example, the quiet surface of a lake may provide a peaceful and broad outlook, a sense of wholeness that yet also expresses unfathomable mystery and deep wisdom. A glass of ordinary boiled water offers relief to a dry throat or mouth and may feel like honeydew. A bowl of clear water, as a blessing to relatives and friends in faraway places, lets the steam float into infinity with the power of prayer. A dynamic stream or other forms of running water chase along the great Dao toward the end. Falling snow like light rain may have the texture of cotton wool and lead to associations of softness and peace. [End Page 149] Definitions The Han dictionary Shuowen jiezi 說文解字 (Illuminating Phrases and Explaining Characters) defines water (shui 水) as “level” or “standard” (zhun 準) and says, “The phase of the northern direction uses as its image all kinds of water and flow. In its midst is the qi of subtle [lesser] yang.”1 “Level” here refers to the function of water and indicates a balancing tendency, a standardization of measurement. The level ruler is an essential tool for construction, and to the present day, levels work with a bubble of water in their midst—as the character zhun is also marked by the “water” radical. The reference to the north connects to the system of the five phases: water is born in the north and marks this the phase associated with north, winter, black, and so on. Water here is a phrase of action, which indicates the appearance and functioning of the north. Although water as such belongs to the force of yin, in fact, symbolizes the height of yin, it yet contains the kinetic energy of qi of micro-yang. The character for “water” is understood variously. One position is that the basic image shows a straight line of flow in the middle with various eddies of water to the right and left. These may represent streams beside the main flow. Others think that water itself represents disaster, mainly because the Yellow River was (and is) prone to flooding, causing loss of life and property. The ancient Chinese were also very much aware that water did not just appear as flow but evaporated and froze. They knew that water vapor rises and accumulates into clouds, and that rivers, oceans, and mountains are the largest sources for this process. The Shuowen jiezi defines “cloud”: “Mountains and rivers give rise to qi which coagulates then falls as rain, changing shape in an ongoing process.”2 Similarly, the pictogram for “lightning” (dian 電) shows “rain in the sky extending to the ground.” The word here rendered “extend” (shen 申) originally meant “lightning” all by itself, showing its characteristic zigzag shape. Lightning descended from the sky and brought rain. Therefore, the word “rain” was added to it. The Shuowen jiezi says, “Yin and yang stimulate bright light, it comes with rain and extends [to the [End Page 150] ground].”3 The...

Model prediction of Al Azim changing water level and power relative due to climatic changes

To evaluate expectation models related to environmental change and anthropogenic intercessions, impact change in water level and force in Iraq's Al-Adhaim bowl (AARB), multi-relapse, hydrologic affectability, and hydrologic model reproductions were applied. The Al Azim River is the essential wellspring of new water for Kirkuk City, probably Iraq's biggest city. Ongoing investigations have uncovered that the bowl water has been showing expanding inconstancy, conceivably adding to more serious dry seasons and floods because of environmental change. To acquire a superior comprehension of the impacts of environmental change on water assets in the review region in the close and far off future, the Pettitt, precipitation-overflow twofold aggregate bend (PR-DCC), and Mann–Kendall techniques were utilized. The results show that the three techniques delivered steady mean yearly streamflow changes. Moreover, environment inconstancy was the essential driver of streamflow decrease, with commitments going from 66 to 97 percent somewhere in the range of 2003 and 2013, while anthropogenic intercessions brought about decreases going from 4 to 34 percent. To further chip away at this multi-model mix theory, Hydrologiska Byran's Vatten balansavdelning (HBV), Ge'nie Rural a Daily 4 Limits (GR4J), and Medbasin models have been effectively implemented (SAM). Climate change and Al-Adhaim an anthropogenically induced change -Method of combining many models -Multi-regression Hydrological affectability analysis - Reproduction of run-off.