Search

It is well established in the literature that a firm's innovation can promote its exports through demand-pull and/or regulatory channels. However, there is a lack of knowledge on whether green innovation strategies affect a firm's international expansion. In this study, we depart from the existing literature by considering the introduction of environmental innovation as an antecedent factor that creates incentives for a firm to enter new markets and to be persistent in export activities. In particular, we investigate whether strategies aimed at reducing energy or water consumption and taking care of the environment have an impact on the probability of being an exporter and on the probability of continuing to export. The results, for a panel data of Spanish firms, confirm the existence of a premium on the probability of entering and remaining in international markets. Commitment to green innovation strategies, such as reductions in energy and water consumption or the minimization of environmental impact, generates a premium for companies that internalize their activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Aim(s) Design Methods Results Conclusion Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care Impact Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution To observe and compare the environmental impacts of different types of infant feeding, considering the use of formula, infant feeding accessories, potentially increased maternal dietary intake during breastfeeding (BF) and food consumption habits.An observational cross‐sectional multicentre study conducted in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area of the Catalan Institute of Health.Data were collected from 419 postpartum women on infant feeding type (formula milk and accessories), maternal dietary intake (24‐h register) and food consumption habits from November 2022 to April 2023. The environmental impacts (climate change (CC), water consumption and water scarcity) of the infant feeding types and maternal diet were calculated using the IPCC, ReCiPE and AWARE indicators, respectively. The differences in impacts were calculated by Kruskal–Wallis test.Significant differences for the three environmental impacts were observed. The CC impact of formula milk and feeding accessories was 0.01 kg CO2eq for exclusive BF, 1.55 kg CO2eq for mixed feeding and 4.98 kg CO2eq for formula feeding. While BF mothers consumed an extra 238 kcal, no significant differences were found related to maternal diet across feeding types.Exclusive BF was the most sustainable type of infant feeding, considering formula and infant feeding accessories. In our study, the difference between the impacts of BF and non‐BF mothers' diet was insignificant.Offer informative and educational support for midwives and other healthcare professionals on BF and a healthy, sustainable diet to transfer this knowledge to the general public. Raise the general public's awareness about BF and a healthy, sustainable diet. To reduce environmental impacts through behavioural changes. STROBE.Patients of the Catalan Health Service reviewed the content of the data collection tools.Trial Registration: (for the whole GREEN MOTHER project): NCT05729581 (https://clinicaltrials.gov) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiconductor foundry industry faces the challenge of reducing its high environmental impact, mainly due to its energy‐ and water‐intensive processes and significant generation of waste. To date, no other study has focused on the assessment of the environmental performance and related historical trends of this industry as a whole. Methodologically, the first step was to analyze and process a large quantity of economic, production, and environmental data, available in the Corporate Social Responsibility reports of a companies' sample, highly representative of the entire world's foundry industry (about 70% of the global revenue of the related sector). It was thus possible to calculate, using a common manufacturing index (MI) and after appropriate data processing, some key performance indicators, along a significant decade (2012–2021), marked by deep political, economic, and health crises. Some of the main findings of this study are that, over this 10‐year period, the increases in technological capacity (patents), wafer production, and revenue (400%, 183%, and 172%, respectively) are matched by a significant increase in hazardous waste generation per MI (20%; 239% in absolute value) and a much larger increase in general waste generation per MI (135%; 568% in absolute value). The indicators of energy, water, and revenue per MI are substantially unchanged. A substantial decrease occurs in GHG1&2 emissions per MI (−32%), mainly due to significant investments in renewable energy sources. The findings of this research could help and guide upcoming sustainability policy decisions and encourage business‐to‐business collaboration and the adoption of better environmental production practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Current guidelines for double contrast barium esophagography studies (BAS) suggest that patients should be nil per os (NPO) prior to completing BAS for optimal esophageal coating, although the time required varies between practices and institutions. It is believed that consumption of food or water disrupts the ability for thick barium contrast to properly coat the esophageal mucosa. Exams that are rescheduled for this reason can lead to delays in care, without substantial evidence that NPO status truly affects esophageal mucosal coating for these exams with current barium mixtures. Objective: The study aims to identify the necessity, or lack thereof, of standard NPO protocol in patients undergoing BAS, in effort to prevent unnecessary procedural delay. Materials and methods: This study is an IRB-approved HIPAA-compliant study of 370 consecutive adult patients (115 male/255 female, mean age 55) who underwent BAS at our institution from January to June of 2022. Patients were divided into two groups: < 4 h NPO (n = 334), and ≥ 4 h NPO (n = 36). Four abdominal radiologists blinded to NPO interval independently reviewed a random sample of approximately 92 patients (91–94) and graded esophageal coating on a 4-point-scale with 1 being insufficient coating and 4 being optimal coating. Results: No significant statistical difference in mean esophageal coating score was found between the ≥ 4 h NPO cohort (3.04 ± SD 0.78) and the < 4 h NPO cohort (2.97 ± SD 0.70; P = 0.54). Subset analysis of patients who were NPO for < 2 h (n = 9) also showed no significant difference in mean esophageal coating score (3.11 ± SD 0.6; P = 0.92), compared to the standard ≥ 4 NPO status. Conclusion: Non-adherence to standard NPO protocol prior to BAS studies did not result in a significant difference in esophageal coating when compared to traditional preprocedural fasting of 4 or more hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity and drought are among the most important abiotic stress factors with vital impacts on plant growth and development. Effects of different salinity and water stress levels on physiological and biochemical traits of pepper were investigated in this study. Five different salinity (S1: 0.3 dS/m; S2: 2.5 dS/m; S3: 5dS/m; S4: 7.5 dS/m; S5: 10 dS/m) and three different irrigation levels (I100: full irrigation; I75: 25% deficit; I50: 50% deficit) were used. Plant water consumption (ET) values decreased in increasing salinity levels. Pepper yield was significantly affected by both salinity and water stress. There was a 62.8% yield loss under salt stress as compared to the control treatment and a 70.1% yield loss under 50% water deficit (I50) as compared to full irrigation (I100). Irrigation water salinity and water deficits caused significant differences in physiological and photosynthetic parameters (plant height, plant fresh and dry weight, leaf area, chlorophyll, and carotenoid content). Salinity and water stress had significant impacts on enzymatic and non-enzymatic contents such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxide (POD), catalase (CAT), proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). It was concluded based on present findings that irrigation waters with a salinity level up to 5 dS/m could be used in pepper cultivation, but water deficits should be avoided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water shortages in arid regions present challenges in administering water and requires robust water accounting. In southeast Idaho, the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer (ESPA) supports an important agricultural sector. Due to connectivity between surface and groundwater in the ESPA, quantifying aquifer recharge is also important. Historically, leaching from excess surface irrigation supported incidental recharge to the ESPA, but more efficient irrigation techniques reduced incidental recharge. This paper outlines a deep infiltration (DI) model developed to evaluate infiltration losses from different irrigation practices and soil types. Twelve scenarios were created to simulate an alfalfa growing season under varying climatic and soil conditions. Under some scenarios, modeled infiltration losses increased by 10%–20% coincident with increased application efficiency. The concept of consumptive use efficiency (CUE) is introduced to quantify the proportion of irrigation beneficially used by crops. The model results show that CUE decreased with increasing application efficiency and suggest CUE could be improved 8%–10% for well-drained loamy soils; clay loam soils showed little opportunity for improvement. The results indicate that more efficient irrigation application techniques may increase DI loss if irrigation schedules do not explicitly include soil water storage for the entire rooting zone. These results indicate that in conditions where losses from DI can be reduced, improving water use efficiency depends on precision irrigation scheduling linked to infiltration rates. This model provides a practical method by which infiltration losses from irrigated lands can be estimated. Considering site-specific infiltration would facilitate and prioritize investments meant to improve water use efficiency. Practical Applications: Irrigation in arid regions usually entails some degree of inefficiency, partly due to water lost through deep percolation. Although some drainage loss occurs under most real-world conditions, it is difficult to measure actual loss. A lack of real information hampers precise estimates and increases uncertainty about actual conveyance and irrigation efficiency. On the other hand, soil infiltration models can utilize existing soil survey maps and guide prioritization and incentives to encourage best practices. This study demonstrates a straightforward application of a soil water drainage model combined with regional soil maps, as could be implemented by water managers. The model was calibrated using observations of crop water use, irrigation application, and soil water content from an irrigated alfalfa field. The calibrated model was then used to describe potential drainage rates from common soil types and weather conditions in southeastern Idaho. The model results indicate that efficient irrigation practices may be best suited to well drained soils, and fewer benefits were observed in poorly drained soils. Even a relatively simple application of this model highlights conditions that are best suited to particular efficiency strategies and help prioritize limited resources for developing best practices for water conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To seek the optimal combination of water–air for drip irrigation processing tomatoes in Northern Xinjiang, China, field experiments consisted of four irrigation levels, and two types of gas-filling methods were proposed. Throughout the whole growth period, the water consumption by physical aeration and chemical aeration increased by 13.65% and 9.27%, respectively compared with the nonaerated treatment. Under the conditions of physical aeration, the processing tomato fruit yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) increased by 8.14% and 4.74%; while by chemical aeration, they increased by 7.91% and 4.61%, respectively. Physical aeration had the most prominent role in increasing the contents of organic acid, soluble solids, soluble sugar, lycopene, and VC in processing tomatoes. The presented indicators show that the effect of physical aeration was better than that of chemical aeration. Physical aeration in combination with different irrigation levels, the 4,950 m3·hm−2 irrigation level gave the highest yield of processing tomato, whereas the highest IWUE was obtained in the 4,500 m3·hm−2 irrigation treatment, and the quality parameters of processing tomatoes at the 4,500 m3·hm−2 irrigation level performed better than those at the 4,950 m3·hm−2 irrigation level. To take into account the requirements of processing tomatoes for maximum IWUE and fruit yield and quality, the entropy weight method was used to determine that the irrigation water volume of 4,500 m3·hm−2 under the conditions of physical aeration can be used as a suitable water and air combination pattern for processing tomatoes in drip irrigation in Northern Xinjiang. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: A method to investigate water consumption based on pressure data is developed. The method exploits the headloss-flowrate equation to obtain water-consumption data. The method is validated on a real case study, resulting in an average error of 2.3%. Limitations affecting the installation of domestic flow meters are overcome. Insights into the features of individual water-consumption events are provided. In the era of digital transformation of water distribution networks, an increasingly important role is played by smart metering technologies, which allow detailed characterization of water consumption up to the end-use (i.e., domestic-fixture) level. To this end, smart flow meters make the collection of water-consumption data at high temporal resolution possible, but their installation can be unfeasible due to technical and economic limitations. As an alternative to the traditional flow-measurement-based methods for end-use characterization, a pragmatic method to obtain information about end-use water consumption exclusively based on pressure data is proposed in this study. In particular, a dual-phase methodology is developed, exploiting (i) pressure data collected at two sections of the user's inlet pipeline and (ii) the pressure-flowrate relationship to discriminate between internal and external water-use events and estimate the household water-consumption time series, which is then subjected to individual-event analysis. The results obtained on a real case study undergone to 1-s resolution pressure monitoring over about one month and a half confirm the method's effectiveness in obtaining the flowrate time series with an average error of about 2.3% and successfully identifying water-consumption events along with their features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on stationary and expeditionary hydrological data and information about the water management complex and volumes of water use, we have calculated for the first time the minimum permissible, average, and optimal hydrographs (in monthly increments) of the influx of Ural waters from Russia to the West Kazakhstan and Atyrau regions, which would not limit the functioning of the main participants of the Kazakhstan water management complex, would not deteriorate the quality of life of the population and existence conditions for aquatic and near-water biocenoses, and would preserve the river as a hydrographic object. The resulting hydrographs summarize (1) the values of current and future water consumption in the cities of Uralsk and Atyrau and numerous rural settlements, as well as water intake by irrigation and water supply canals, including the Kushum Canal; (2) the needs of river navigation for controlling depths and continuous navigation from May to October; (3) the environmental flow necessary for the reproduction of sturgeon fish species and the preservation of the bioproductivity and biodiversity of floodplain ecosystems. The latter element required nonstandard solutions, including those based on the existing domestic approaches to determining critical and optimal values (with respect to floodplain–channel ecosystems) values. Another and completely new result of this research is analysis of the long-term dynamics of maximum and minimum levels in the lower reaches of the Ural River and the frequency, duration, and depth of floodplain flooding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study shows variations in the volumes of water consumption and disposal, as well as the mass of pollutant discharges in the Russian part of the Ural River basin under changing socioeconomic and technological conditions and gives estimates of water quality transformations in the river. It was found that since 1990 to 2022, water withdrawal for meeting the needs of the population and economy in the Russian part of the Ural River basin decreased by 3.9 times. The water turnover factor in the basin increased from 70.3 to 91.6%. The mass of most pollutants in the discharged wastewater has decreased by 3–20 times, though five pollutants show an appreciable increase in their discharge volumes. In the upper reaches of the Ural River, the water quality estimated by the specific value of combinatory water pollution index has practically not changed in 2008–2020, while in its middle reaches, an increase in water quality was recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During high-intensity (HI) exercise, metabolic acidosis significantly impairs exercise performance. Increasing the body's buffering capacity through training and exogenous intake of alkalizing supplements may improve highintensity performance. Manipulating water and diet intake may influence the acid-base balance. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of mineral water rich in bicarbonate ions (STY) or placebo water (PLA) on circulating biomarkers and anaerobic performance and to verify whether alkalizing (ALK) or acidizing (ACI) diet would modulate these effects. Twenty-four athletes, assigned either to ALK (n = 12) or ACI (n = 12) diet for four weeks, completed a 1-min rowing Wingate Test in a double-blind and randomized trial after one week of daily hydration (1.5 to 2L/d) with either STY or PLA. Blood samples were taken before and after each test, and urine samples were collected each week. Chronic consumption of bicarbonate-rich water significantly impacted resting urinary pH irrespective of alkalizing or acidizing dietary intake. STY induced a significant increase in blood pH, lactate, and HCO3- ion concentration postexercise compared to PLA. Similar changes were observed when STY was associated with the ALK diet. In contrast, STY combined with the ACI diet only significantly affected urine pH and peak blood lactate compared to PLA (p < 0.05). No effect of bicarbonate-rich water was reported on anaerobic performance (p > 0.05). Our results suggest that consumption of bicarbonate-rich water alters acid-base balance during a warm-up and after HI exercise, could potentiate beneficial effects of an alkalizing diet on the acid-base balance after HI exercise, and reduces the acid load induced by an acidifying diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The international standards ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 do not specify a single method for the performance of life cycle impact assessment (LCIA). As a result, many different LCIA methods have been developed and the choice between them is not always obvious. Therefore, the main aim of this research is to systematically compare the most commonly used multi-impact LCIA methods worldwide to support practitioners in confronting the question of how the choice of LCIA method affects the LCA results. Methods: Four LCIA methods: ReCiPe 2016, ILCD 2011, CML-IA baseline and IMPACT 2002+ at the midpoint level were applied to compare the environmental profiles of the electricity consumption mix in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, taking into account the electricity consumption mix in individual countries. The results of the impact categories were converted into common metrics using unit conversion factors to allow the comparison of the results in absolute values across LCIA methods. Results and discussion: In the LCA study, four common LCIA methods were compared across 12 defined midpoint areas of impacts. Results were consistent for climate change and ozone depletion, with the exception of the ReCiPe 2016 method, and acidification and eutrophication, with the exception of the IMPACT 2002+ method. Significant disparities were noted for ozone formation/respiratory organics, particulate matter/respiratory inorganics ecotoxicity and water consumption. The rankings of environmental profiles remained largely consistent across LCIA methods, with only a few exceptions concerning the following midpoint areas of impacts: ozone formation/respiratory organics, ecotoxicity and resource scarcity (minerals). Contribution analysis highlighted the crucial role of only a few key substances in each area. Conclusions: The methodological choices during LCIA have significant implications for the characterisation results in absolute values, but lead, in most cases, to comparable conclusions on the ranking of environmental profiles of the electricity consumption mix in the EU-27, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. This results from large methodological discrepancies between LCIA methods, concerning, among others, the geographical differentiation (either the European or global context), the scope of the impact categories grouped into the same midpoint area of impacts (for instance eutrophication) and the contribution of specific environmental flows to a given result of the impact category. Consequently, the findings of this research underpin the importance of careful selection of the LCIA method and impact categories, following the goal and scope definition and unique attributes of each method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Water resources is an essential factor to ensure the sustainable development of the society, but along with the utilization and treatment of water resources, a large amount of carbon emissions will be generated. The study of carbon emissions in social water cycle system is of great significance in promoting the achievement of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. This study calculated the carbon emissions generated in social water cycle system in nine provinces along the Yellow River, used the Tapio decoupling model to analyze the decoupling relationship between water and carbon emissions, and constructed the STIRPAT expanded model to analyze the main influencing factors of carbon emissions. Results: (1) The total carbon emissions of the nine provinces showed an increasing trend over time, with a growth rate of 25.13%. (2) The carbon emission intensity of water use (1.60kg/m3) and drainage (1.45kg/m3) system is higher, the carbon emission intensity of water supply (0.30kg/m3) and water withdrawal (0.56kg/m3) system is lower. (3) The relationship between water resources utilization and carbon emissions along the Yellow River is generally in a state of negative decoupling and coupling. (4) Energy structure and population growth are the main factors affecting carbon emissions in social water cycle system, while water supply quantity and water use system are secondary factors. Conclusions: Water use system is the main body of carbon emissions in social water cycle system, and as the water consumption increases, the carbon emissions will continue to increase. In order to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate climate change, carbon emission factors should be incorporated into water resources management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Textile dyeing requires optimizing combinations of ingredients and process parameters to achieve target colour properties. Modelling the complex relationships between these factors and the resulting colour is challenging. In this case, a physics-informed approach for multi-output regression to model CIELAB colour values from dyeing ingredient and process inputs is proposed. Leveraging attention mechanisms and multi-task learning, the model outperforms baseline methods at predicting multiple colour outputs jointly. Specifically, the Transformer model's attention mechanism captures the complex interactions between dyeing ingredients and process parameters, while the multi-task learning framework exploits the intrinsic correlations among the L*, a*, and b* dimensions of the CIELAB colour space. In addition, the incorporation of physical knowledge through a physics-informed loss function integrates the CMC colour difference formula. This loss function, along with the attention mechanisms, enables the model to learn the nuanced relationships between the dyeing process variables and the final colour output, thereby improving the overall prediction accuracy. This reduces trial-and-error costs and resource waste, contributing to environmental sustainability by minimizing water and energy consumption and chemical emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of advanced electrocatalysts with exceptional performance at high current densities is pivotal for reducing electric energy consumption in industrial water splitting for hydrogen production. Herein, a flexible one‐step electrodeposition approach is developed to synthesize superhydrophilic 3D flower‐like clusters of Cu–Co–P nanosheets grown in situ on nickel foam (NF). Introducing Cu into Co–P causes strong electron interactions, forming an electronic configuration favorable for the adsorption and desorption of intermediates, which significantly improves the intrinsic catalytic activity. The as‐deposited Cu–Co–P/NF display notable bifunctional catalytic activity with low overpotentials of 259 and 65 mV for the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions, respectively, at 10 mA cm−2. Superwetting 3D flower‐like nanostructures are conducive to the penetration of electrolytes and the rapid release of bubbles, enabling the efficient utilization of active sites and the timely release of bubble stress under high current densities. An assembled Cu–Co–P/NF(+, −) electrolyzer achieves an impressive voltage of 1.85 V at 500 mA cm−2 for water splitting and appreciable stability for over 220 h under simulated industrial conditions. This work offers an attractive strategy for regulating superaerophobic Co–P electrocatalysts for industrial water splitting, which can contribute to practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) contribute to the overall pollution of water sources, affecting not only aquatic ecosystems but also water for human consumption (WHC). Currently, there needs to be a global consensus on safe levels of microplastics in WHC, which will allow regulatory efforts and risk assessments to be carried out. Therefore, this study aims to characterize MP particles in WHC of the Lisbon water supply system (LWSS) and compare two approaches to quantify these particles (length and width of the particles, and the area equivalent diameter (AED) of the particles). The quantification of MP particles was made via micro-FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) on transmission mode after water filtration on 5 µm silicon filters. Thirty-eight WHC samples from the LWSS showed MPs up to 836 MPs/L, with an average value of 196 MPs/L. The most representative polymer was polyethylene (PE, 77.2%). The other eight polymers were also quantified. The length and width of MPs ranged between 84 µm and 41 µm, respectively. The AED of MPs ranged between 24 µm and 405 µm. The MP dimensions of both approaches can differ significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses a triple-sensor collocation approach to evaluate the performance of small-holder irrigation schemes in the Zamra catchment of Northern Ethiopia. Crop water productivity (CWP), as an integrator of biomass production and water use, was used to compare the overall efficiencies of three types of irrigation systems: traditional and modern diversions, and dam-based irrigation water supply. Farmer-reported data often rely on observations, which can introduce human estimation and measurement errors. As a result, the evaluation of irrigation scheme performance has frequently been insufficient to fully explain crop water productivity. To overcome the challenges of using one single estimation method, we used a triple-sensor collocation approach to evaluate the efficiency of three small-scale irrigation schemes, using water productivity as an indicator. It employed three independent methods: remotely sensed data, a model-based approach, and farmer in-situ estimates to assess crop yields and water consumption. To implement the triple collocation appraisal, we first applied three independent evaluation methods, i.e., remotely sensed, model-based, and farmer in-situ estimates of crop yields and water consumption, to assess the crop water productivities of the systems. Triple-sensor collocation allows for the appraisal and comparison of estimation errors of measurement sensor systems, and enables the ranking of the estimators by their quality to represent the de-facto unknown true value, in our case: crop yields, water use, and its ratio CWP, in small-holder irrigated agriculture. The study entailed four main components: (1) collecting in-situ information and data from small-holder farmers on crop yields and water use; (2) derivation of remote sensing-based CWP from the FAO WaPOR open database and time series; (3) evaluation of biomass, crop yields and water use (evapotranspiration) using the AquaCrop model, integrating climate, soil data, and irrigation management practices; (4) performing and analysis of a categorical triple collocation analysis of the independent estimator data and performance ranking of the three sensing and small-holder irrigation systems. Maize and vegetables were used as main crops during three consecutive irrigation seasons (2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20). Civil war prevented further field surveying, in-situ research, and data collection. The results indicate that remote sensing products are performed best in the modern and dam irrigation schemes for maize. For vegetables, AquaCrop performed best in the dam irrigation scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water is a vital resource for sustaining life and for numerous processes within the transformation industry. It is a finite resource, albeit one that can be renewed, and thus sustainable management is imperative. To achieve this objective, it is necessary to have the appropriate tools to assist with the planning policies for its management. This paper presents a time series analysis approach to measure and predict the pattern of water consumption by humans throughout subsectors (domestic, commercial, public sector, education, industry, and raw water) and total water consumption in Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico with data from 2011 to 2023, applying calibration model techniques to measure uncertainty in the forecasting. The municipality of Meoqui encompasses an area of 342 km2. The climate is semi-arid, with an average annual rainfall of 272 mm and average temperatures of 26.4 °C in summer and 9.7 °C in winter. The municipal seat, which has a population of 23,140, is supplied with water from ten wells, with an average consumption of 20 ± 579 m3 per user. The consumption of the general population indicates the existence of a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) (0,1,2)(0,0,2)12 model. (Sen's Slope = 682.7, p < 0.001). The domestic sector exhibited the highest overall consumption, with a total volume of 17,169,009 m3 (13 ± 93). A SARIMA (2,1,0)(2,0,0)12 model was estimated, with a Sen's slope of 221.65 and a p-value of less than 0.001. The second-largest consumer of total water was the "raw water" sector, which consumed 5,124,795 (30,146 ± 35,841) m3 and exhibited an SARIMA (0,1,1)(2,0,0)12 model with no statistically significant trend. The resulting models will facilitate the company's ability to define water resource management strategies in a sustainable manner, in alignment with projected consumption trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve equitable water access, it is necessary to understand and quantify the heterogeneity of water consumption. Thus, this study assessed the spatial dependence of water consumption for Brazil and an urban center. Two spatial autocorrelation tests were applied: the Global Moran’s Index (I) and the Local Indicator of Spatial Association (LISA). It was found that, both at the national and municipal scales, water consumption is not uniformly distributed in space, indicating the formation of clusters of regions with High-High, High-Low, Low-High, and Low-Low aggregation patterns. In this way, water and socioeconomic inequalities in Brazil are highlighted, emphasizing the gap between the Center-South and the North-Northeast regions. Additionally, water and socioeconomic disparities within the city of Fortaleza are also observed, resulting from its urbanization process. Finally, the spatial autocorrelation between water consumption and per capita income is strongly evident at both the national and municipal levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research seeks to comprehensively assess the water footprint and environmental sustainability of millet-based ethanol production in India, responding to the growing interest in resilient and nutritious alternatives. Utilizing a life cycle assessment approach, the study will scrutinize water usage across the entire production process, from millet cultivation to ethanol extraction. The primary aim is to gain an in-depth understanding of water consumption at each stage, pinpointing areas for enhancement and efficiency. Rajasthan exhibited the highest total water footprint at 6596 m3/ton, primarily due to its substantial ETc value, while Andhra Pradesh showcased the lowest at 1906 m3/ton, owing to its high average yield. Haryana displayed significant water usage during crop production, with a water footprint of 5870 m3/ton, where WFgreen, WFblue, and WFgrey contributed 3730 m3/ton, 2010 m3/ton and 130 m3/ton respectively. Uttar Pradesh demonstrated a comparatively lower total water footprint of 2564 m3/ton. These findings are anticipated to offer valuable insights into the viability and sustainability of millet-derived ethanol as an eco-friendly biofuel option in India, guiding policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders in promoting its adoption and addressing environmental challenges linked with conventional fuel sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commodity exports have played a crucial role in driving global economic growth, but they have also led to increased flow and consumption of natural resources worldwide. To measure and analyse the inter‐regional virtual water consumption and value‐added benefits driven by exports, as well as the unequal exchange between regions, we utilised the global supply chain database of Eora to construct a multi‐regional input–output (MRIO) model of virtual water consumption and value‐added benefits among 189 countries and regions from 1991 to 2016. We also proposed a virtual water consumption uneven index. The results highlight that relatively less developed regions accounted for 27% of the world's total export value added and 56% of virtual water exports. In contrast, relatively developed regions contributed 73% of the global export value added but only 44% of virtual water exports. The export of high‐value‐added products, such as financial services, was concentrated in the relatively developed regions, while water‐intensive products, like agriculture, forestry, and animal husbandry, were mainly exported by relatively less developed regions. Economically developed regions enjoyed a beneficiary position in terms of virtual water consumption, with each unit of export‐driven added value requiring only 4–100 kg of virtual water. Conversely, economically less developed regions consumed 140–1800 kg of virtual water per unit of export‐driven added value. The disparities in virtual water exchanges across different regions primarily stem from the differences between developed and less developed regions. Therefore, less developed regions and countries should focus on improving water efficiency in water‐consuming industries, adjusting the structure of export industries, and striving to reduce or reverse the disadvantageous position of resource consumption, such as virtual water, in global trade exports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Water resources are the common aspect of the goals and challenges of sustainable development, the lack of which is one of the big multidimensional problems of the current century and is one of the main reasons for positive and negative developments in the world. Therefore, the water poverty index (WPI) is one of the indices defined for this purpose. This index shows the effect of the combination of effective factors on the scarcity and stress of water resources. It provides the conditions for prioritizing and developing management versions in different regions. To determine water scarcity and poverty in each region, attention should be paid to the conditions of water resources in the studied region, the ability to calculate the index and the existence of information and data in the studied region, as well as the selection of selected criteria and components in that region. In this study, the water poverty index is used to investigate the shortage and tension of water resources and for its influence on drought, its relationship with univariate drought indices based on precipitation including standardized precipitation index (SPI) and Z score index (ZSI), and variable indices based on precipitation and evapotranspiration including standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and reconnaissance drought index (RDI) were searched. Materials and Methods The study area in this research is the Hashem-Abad meteorological station in Gorgan Township, and the statistical period for calculating the water poverty index based on the data available in the study area was considered to be 13 years (2003-2015). The water poverty index in this research is calculated based on five main components, which include the resource (groundwater loss), meteorological (temperature and precipitation), consumption (water need), capacity (river discharge), and environmental (salinity). Each of the components must be weighed after calculating to calculate the water poverty index. For this purpose, the AHP hierarchical technique was used. First, a questionnaire was prepared and the components were scored based on the opinion of regional water experts and university professors, then, using Expert Choice software, the weight of the main components of the water poverty index was determined, and finally, the WPI for the study area in this research was also estimated. Then, in the next step, drought indices SPI, SPEI, RDI, and ZSI were calculated in 6-month and 12-month time windows. To calculate the drought indices, the precipitation and temperature data at the Hashem-Abad meteorological station for a period of 30 years (1990-2019) were considered, which were sorted monthly and the coding necessary to calculate the SPI and SPEI indices in time windows 6 and 12 months was done by R programming and statistical software. Also, two indicators, RDI and ZSI, were calculated in the Excel software. Finally, the relationship between drought indices and the water poverty index was searched based on simple one-to-multivariate correlations. Results and Discussion The results of the water poverty index’s components showed that the resources and environment component had the highest value in 2009 and 2010 and the lowest value in 2010 and 2016, respectively. About meteorological, capacity, and consumption components, the highest values were in the years 2010, 2004, and 2009, respectively, and the lowest values occurred in the years 2010, 2016, and 2016, respectively. Questionnaire analysis of WPI components with AHP showed that resources and environment components had the highest and lowest weights with values of 0.354 and 0.041, respectively. However, by multiplying these weights by their related components, it was found that the components of consumption, environment, resources, meteorology, and capacity had the greatest effect in calculating the water poverty index. The range of WPI changes during the years (2004-2016) varies from 26 to 82, so 2014, which is one of the driest years, the region was in the poorest state of water resources and the year 2008 had the best conditions. Considering the average WPI of about 55, out of the 13 years studied, the WPI was lower than the average in 8 years. In the next step, due to the lack of data, there was no possibility of non-linear modeling, therefore, simple one-to-multivariate correlations were used. The results of these correlations showed that the use of the multivariate linear regression method by considering the drought index in a 12-month time window along with two six-month time windows related to the first and second half of the year increases their correlation with the water poverty index. Examining the effect of the time window considered for the drought index on the water poverty index shows that the 12-month time window has a higher correlation than the sixmonth time window. Also, among the six-month time windows, in the SPEI index, the first six months of the year, which includes the spring and summer seasons, had a higher correlation with the water poverty index. Correlation results between drought indices and WPI showed that the annual time interval is more suitable than the 6-month time one. And among the 4 indices studied, the SPEI index with R2=0.90 had the highest correlation while the ZSI index with R2=0.81 had the lowest correlation with WPI. Conclusion Based on the results of the components of the water poverty index in this research, it was observed that the consumption component in the Gorgan region had the biggest role in the WPI estimation, so water conservation can have a great contribution to solving water poverty. Due to the high volume of water consumption in the agricultural sector, some measures should be taken to manage water consumption and choose the appropriate cultivation patterns. The high correlation of WPI with drought indices, especially the SPEI variable index, makes the importance of creating a drought monitoring and forecasting system more tangible, and due to global warming and climate change in the future, which this region is not exempt from, it can make the problems of water poverty and lack of water more severe in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in dietary patterns towards Western diets, along with unhealthy lifestyles, are causing a rapid increase in the rates of overweight, obesity, and noncommunicable chronic diseases in the Peruvian population. Food-based dietary guidelines (FBDG) are supportive tools for public policies aimed at promoting healthier eating habits. This study aimed to present the process of designing and validating an iconography for the Peru FBDG. The design process involved an extensive review of dietary iconography in various countries of the LAC region. In accordance with the specific context of Peru, the decision was made to incorporate local elements into the iconography. Four image proposals were initially designed and subsequently subjected to expert validation. From these, two proposals were selected for population validation through focus groups. The validation process focused on qualitative evaluation criteria, including understanding, attraction, involvement, acceptance, and induction to action. The resulting final iconography consists of two concentric circles. The central circle represents the seven food groups distributed proportionally, while the outer circle signifies healthy lifestyles, encompassing physical activity, commensality, and daily water consumption, portrayed in vibrant colors. Surrounding the circles are icons representing ultraprocessed foods depicted in black octagons. Additionally, icons for added sugar and salt are placed outside the circles, serving as prominent warnings to reduce their consumption, as recommended during the validation process. This study successfully developed an iconographic representation that fulfills both technical and population-level validation criteria. The incorporation of participants' contributions and recommendations further enhanced its efficacy. The validated iconography not only serves as an educational and awareness tool but also offers practical guidance for individuals to adopt healthier dietary practices and lifestyles. In conclusion, the FBDG iconography effectively communicated the importance of natural foods over ultra-processed ones, along with emphasizing healthy eating habits, as understood and embraced by focus group participants. The attraction and comprehension of the FBDG iconography looks promising for its implementation, suggesting improvements in the health and nutritional well-being of individuals of two years and above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though iron is one of the vital micronutrients in biological systems excess of which is associated with various illness. Consumption of contaminated water and crops because of its extensive industrial utility is one of the major sources for excess iron in living beings. Hence, we have designed a sensor based on carbon nanoparticles for the detection of Fe (III) and we have also attempted to estimate Fe (III) in spiked water samples. Carbon nanoparticles (CNP) with quantum yield of 40.2 % was synthesized by solid state synthesis from aromatic molecular precursors unlike conventional synthesis methodology. The particle size, stability and optical properties of CNP were investigated by microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. CNP manifested a naked color change from colorless to yellow in presence of Fe (III) and 72 % of CNP's emission was quenched at 487 nm on excitation at 377 nm by Fe (III). The detection time was less than a second and limit of detection was calculated as 0.248 µM. The mechanistic aspect of detection was investigated and applicability of CNP was examined in spiked water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In total, 3274 adults (65.2% females) from six European countries were included in this cross-sectional analysis using data from the baseline assessment of the Feel4Diabetes study. Anthropometric, sociodemographic, dietary and behavioral data were assessed, and the existence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was recorded. Beverage consumption patterns (BCPs) were derived via principal component analysis. Three BCPs were derived explaining 39.5% of the total variation. BCP1 was labeled as "Alcoholic beverage pattern", which loaded heavily on high consumption of beer/cider, wine and other spirits; BCP2 was labeled as "High in sugars beverage pattern" that was mainly characterized by high consumption of soft drinks with sugar, juice containing sugar and low consumption of water; and BCP3 was labeled as "Healthy beverage pattern" that was mainly characterized by high consumption of water, tea, fruit juice freshly squeezed or prepacked without sugar and low consumption of soft drinks without sugar. After adjusting for various confounders, BCP2 was positively associated with elevated triglycerides (p = 0.001), elevated blood pressure (p = 0.001) elevated fasting glucose (p = 0.008) and the existence of MetS (p = 0.006), while BCP1 was inversely associated with reduced HDL-C (p = 0.005) and BCP3 was inversely associated with elevated blood pressure (p = 0.047). The establishment of policy actions as well as public health nutritional education can contribute to the promotion of a healthy beverage consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water resources, energy, and food are fundamental resources for high-quality regional development. In the process of rapid regional economic growth, integrating the utilization of these fundamental resources has become a critical challenge for achieving high-quality development in the Ili River Valley. To explore the coordinated development status of water, energy, and food (W-E-F) in the Ili River Valley, we constructed a comprehensive evaluation indicator system for the regional W-E-F system, and we calculated and analyzed the comprehensive development level, coupling coordination degree, and spatial equilibrium of the W-E-F system from 2008 to 2020. The results indicate that the comprehensive evaluation indicators of the W-E-F system in the Ili River Valley exhibited an overall upward trend, indicating that the system is moving in a positive direction. Among them, the water subsystem's comprehensive evaluation indicator showed an upward trend but fluctuated significantly during the study period, with the excessive proportion of agricultural water consumption being a key factor affecting its development. Furthermore, the comprehensive evaluation indicator of the energy subsystem showed a slight downward trend, indicating constraints on the development of energy subsystems. Agricultural surface pollution and industrial waste pollution are the primary factors limiting its development. Meanwhile, due to the significant attention from governments at all levels, the food subsystem has been developed rapidly, with its comprehensive evaluation indicator showing a significant upward trend, which shows that the region is actively promoting food production capacity enhancement initiatives. Additionally, the coupling degree of the W-E-F system remained in a state of coordinated coupling, with an average value between 0.7 and 1.0, indicating a high overall development level, and that the development of each resource affects and constrains that of the other two. The coupling coordination degree transitioned through phases of near coordination, primary coordination, good coordination, and moderate coordination, and all counties and cities showed a tendency to evolve towards high coupling, indicating significant potential for the further development of the regional W-E-F system coupling and coordination. Among the subsystems, the food subsystem exhibited the highest spatial equilibrium (0.78) and the smallest spatial disparities, while the energy subsystem demonstrated the lowest spatial equilibrium (0.40) and the largest spatial disparities. There were still significant issues with the utilization and equilibrium of the regional resource allocation, necessitating integrated planning for the coordinated development of the W-E-F system to achieve sustainable resource management and high-quality ecological and economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The soil seed bank (SSB) is one of the key mechanisms that ensure the perpetuity of forests, but how will it behave in the scenarios projected for the future climate? Faced with this main question, still little explored in seasonal tropical forests, this study evaluated the germination, ecological attributes, and functional traits of the SSB in a seasonal forest in the Atlantic Forest. Forty‐eight composite samples of the SSB were collected from 12 plots, distributed across four treatments, each with 12 replicates. The samples were placed in two climate‐controlled greenhouses, establishing two environments of controlled climatic conditions, both with two levels of water, as follows: Cur: current scenario without water restriction; Cur_WR: current scenario with water restriction; RCP8.5: future scenario without water restriction; RCP8.5_WR: future scenario with water restriction. The germinants were identified, and their ecological attributes and functional traits were obtained. Leaf area and biomass production, differences in abundance, richness, and diversity were evaluated, along with analysis of variance to assess the interaction between water levels and scenarios. All ecological attributes and functional traits evaluated drastically decreased in the future projection with water restriction, with this restriction being the main component influencing this response. The increased temperature in the future scenario significantly raised water consumption compared to the current scenario. However, persistent water restrictions in the future could undermine the resilience of seasonal forests, hindering seed germination in the soil. Richness and abundance were also adversely affected by water scarcity in the future scenario, revealing a low tolerance to the projected prolonged drought. These changes found in the results could alter the overall structure of seasonal forests in the future, as well as result in the loss of the regeneration potential of the SSB due to decreased seed viability and increased seedling mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensification of water resource usage, correlated with changes in land use and cover as well as climate variability, has led to significant alterations in the hydrological cycle, impacting water availability in basins. This study assesses hydrological trends in the section of the Janeiro River basin located in the Brazilian savannah (Cerrado biome), focusing on the influence of anthropogenic activities and climate variability between 1985 and 2017. Using precipitation, actual evapotranspiration, streamflow, land use and cover, and water use authorization data, we applied statistical tests (Mann–Kendall, Sen's slope, Pettitt, and RHO Spearman) to identify trends, abrupt changes, and correlations. The results show a decreasing trend in average and minimum flows, with reductions of 30 to 40%, respectively, compared to the historical series average, not attributable to significant changes in precipitation but rather to an expansion of agricultural areas and an intensification of water consumption for irrigation. There was a reduction from 76.5% to the sum of Natural and Forest Formation areas and an increase of 71.1% in Agricultural areas. The correlation between land use changes and streamflows suggests that the conversion of natural vegetation into agricultural lands is directly associated with the decline in water availability. This study highlights the need for sustainable planning and management of water resources, considering the seasonality of water availability and agricultural demands, to mitigate the negative impacts on the hydrological cycle and ensure water sustainability in the Brazilian savannah region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides a detailed inventory analysis of the manufacturing process of a cosmetic cream using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and hydroxylated fullerene water complex (3HFWC) as novel nanocomponents for cream. The inventory analysis was focused on the evaluation of the two raw materials of the nanocomponents, the consumption of electricity and water, which enabled an insight into the process flows within the production process. The data obtained from this analysis of the inventory of nanocomponents provide an insight into the potential improvements that can be made in the manufacturing process of nanocomponents, in order to reduce the environmental impact of the production of new cosmetic creams. These results will serve as the basis for the second part of the analysis, where a life cycle analysis will be carried out to assess the environmental impacts of cream production from the acquisition of raw materials to the disposal of the final product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality and quantity of drinking water are critical for the growth and health of pigs. Traditional bowl-type drinking fountains are associated with several issues, including the proliferation of pathogenic bacteria due to feed residue and water wastage resulting from pigs playing in the water. To address these issues and enhance piggery management, there is a need for innovative, water-saving, and hygienic smart drinking devices. This study aimed to address the shortcomings of traditional bowl-type drinking fountains by developing and evaluating an intelligent water-saving drinking bowl for pigs. We incorporated PLC control modules, water level detection, drinking recognition, and precise water quantity measurement into the intelligent drinking bowl. This system ensured the rational and accurate supply of water to pigs and features an automatic residue cleaning function within the bowl. To evaluate the impact of this intelligent drinking bowl on pig production performance, water consumption, drinking behavior and the hygienic quality of drinking water, we conducted an experiment involving 100 fattening pigs in good physiological condition, with an average body weight of 85.87 ± 15.80 kg. Then, the pigs were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: one with traditional drinking bowls and the other with intelligent drinking bowls. Each group had 5 replicates, with 10 pigs per replicate, and the entire experiment was conducted over a period of 35 days. Our results revealed that both types of bowls demonstrated two distinct peaks in drinking activity, occurring at approximately 09:00 and 15:00. When comparing the smart drinking bowl group to the traditional bowl group, the group using smart drinking bowls showed a 3% increase in daily weight gain, a 0.7% reduction in feed intake, and a 5% decrease in the feedto-weight ratio. However, none of these differences were statistically significant. Meanwhile, the two types of drinking bowls had no significant effect on the drinking behavior, such as the frequency and duration of drinking. Significant differences were noted in water consumption and wastage. The average daily water consumption was 11.14 ± 0.46 L/d for the traditional drinking bowl group and 10.05 ± 0.46 L/d for the intelligent drinking bowl group, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). Water wastage was 0.89 ± 0.13 L/d for the traditional bowl and 0.25 ± 0.13 L/d for the intelligent bowl, with a highly significant difference (P < 0.01). The intelligent drinking bowl reduced water wastage by 60.9% to 79.5% compared to the traditional bowl. Additionally, total coliform counts in the residual water were 83.00 ± 3.46 MPN/100 mL for the traditional drinking bowl group and 68.33 ± 4.04 MPN/100 mL for the intelligent drinking bowl, with a significant difference (P < 0.05). The total coliform bacteria count in residual water within smart drinking bowls used by fattening pigs was reduced by 16.3% to 19.2% compared to traditional drinking bowls. Economic analysis indicated that the cost savings from reduced water usage alone can offset the initial investment in smart drinking bowls within approximately one year. This study demonstrated that the intelligent drinking bowl effectively reduced water wastage and improved the hygienic quality of drinking water, thereby supporting better animal welfare and offering practical benefits for piggery management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the dairy industry, traditional heat treatments are known for their high water and energy consumption, and more economically and environmentally friendly solutions are being sought. Infrared (IR) technology offers advantages in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability; however, its effectiveness in milk processing, particularly in pathogen inactivation, remains relatively unexplored. In this study, homogenized raw milk was subjected to IR treatment, and its impact on Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Enterobacteriaceae was assessed. Results indicate that IR treatment effectively reduces the microbial load, achieving levels of inactivation comparable to conventional pasteurization methods (around 6 Log10 CFU/mL). Moreover, the treatment maintains milk pH levels, suggesting minimal alteration to its composition. Further research is needed to explore the full extent of IR treatment on milk sanitation efficacy, deeply exploring IR technology to fully assess its applicability and integration into dairy processing practices. Despite regulatory challenges, the Wir System Milk shows promise as a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative for raw milk treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water deficit resulting from climate variations limits the profitability and sustainability of sugarcane fields, making water supply through irrigation necessary to sustain the potential production of sugarcane. However, the water used for irrigation purposes must be properly managed, ensuring the conservation of water resources and the reduction of costs with the use of inputs and energy. Pulsed drip irrigation aims to support irrigation management, improving the efficient use of water and mitigating the deleterious effects of water deficit. This study aims to evaluate the growth, productivity, and industrial yield of sugarcane cultivated under continuous and pulsed drip irrigation. A field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Sugarcane Station of Carpina, in Carpina in the State of Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil, from December 2020 to December 2021. The experimental arrangement was randomized blocks in a 2 x 5 factorial design, with two types of irrigation application (pulsed and continuous) and five irrigation levels (40, 60, 80, 100, and 120% of crop evapotranspiration – ETc), with four replications. Pulsed drip irrigation increased the yield of stalks (9%) and sugar (21%) in the sugarcane crop and ethanol (17%) derived from sugar in the juice. Pulsed drip irrigation, when compared to continuous irrigation, improved the performance of sugarcane, providing a reduction in water consumption and increasing growth, stalk yield, sugar and predicted ethanol yield. Thus, based on this study, pulse irrigation is an efficient approach to irrigation management, contributing to the stability of sugarcane production while conserving water relative to continuous irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines hotel water management in Madeira, Portugal and Tenerife, Spain, which differ in water stress and tourism pressure, both much higher in Tenerife. Determinants of hotel water use and water-saving measures are evaluated using correlations and cluster analyses. In Tenerife, more decisive implementation of water-saving measures results in much lower consumption. Conversely, in Madeira, hotel size and category appear to overshadow the effect of water-saving measures. The novelty of this study lies in applying the same methodology to two different destinations, highlighting the role of external factors in shaping hotel water management, while exploring water-saving measures in depth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

patterns is a requisite for the design and operation of water distribution networks. This study uses end-use water consumption data to create zonal water consumption patterns. The process involves extrapolating end-use data to create flow variation in the water distribution network. In this study, the water consumption patterns of 30 household consumers as the end-use data were monitored for a period of one year. To validate the results of the presented methodology, zonal water consumption patterns of nine district-metered areas were also measured. The Normal and the Gumbel probability distributions were applied to individual water consumption patterns to generate comprehensive zonal water consumption patterns for different population sizes. The results indicate that the maximum Gumbel's probabilistic distribution function with considering the leakage effect created better results. This innovative approach holds the potential to create comprehensive zonal water consumption patterns tailor-made for different population sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tecnología y Ciencias del Agua is the property of Instituto Mexicano de Tecnologia del Agua (IMTA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Trakya Journal of Education is the property of Trakya Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

With the global population projected to reach 8.6 billion by 2050 and urbanization on the rise, sustainable food production in cities becomes imperative. Vertical farming presents a promising solution to meet this challenge by utilizing space-efficient, controlled-environment agriculture techniques. In a vertical farming system, high quality, high nutritional value products can be produced with minimum water consumption, using LEDs as energy-efficient light sources. Microgreens are a new market category of vegetables among sprouts and baby leaf greens. The most critical challenge in their cultivation is the choice of growing medium, lighting, and light spectrum, which affect photosynthesis, plant growth, and yield. This review explores various cultivation methods, including hydroponics, within the context of vertical farming. Using current research, it investigates the effect of LED lighting on the physiological properties and growth of microgreens and baby leaf lettuce, but further research is needed to determine the response of the varieties and the optimal light spectrum ratios to meet their needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The distribution and availability of water resources have been greatly impacted by global climate change and unsustainable human activities. This has resulted in increased pressure on surface water supplies, human consumption and socioeconomic growth. Although water management requires monitoring, a substantial amount of water consumption globally, including both groundwater and surface water, remains unmeasured. Madhya Pradesh (MP) has a very varied semi-arid geographical region in Central India. Recent studies have found that 36 out of 51 districts in the state of MP have been facing severe hydrological drought conditions. Despite the challenges in the MP region, there is little understanding of the permanent and seasonal changes in surface water and the overall availability of surface water resources in each district. Field-based monitoring of surface water bodies in large regions such as MP poses considerable difficulties. However, gaining knowledge about changes in the distribution of water on the Earth's surface across time and space can be enhanced by analysing data obtained via remote sensing. To understand the long-term changes in surface water in different districts of Madhya Pradesh, India, over the past 38 years, we analysed a publicly accessible global surface water dataset provided by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) European Commission. This dataset is based on Landsat imagery and covers the period from 1984 to 2021. This research study examines the associations between variations in the permanent surface water level and the extent of land being irrigated, the intensity of agricultural activities and the seasonal oscillations in surface water for several districts in Madhya Pradesh. The findings from this research will be beneficial for assessing several significant MP districts in terms of their water footprint and sustainable management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the application of the Comparison of Flow Pattern Distribution (CFPD) method for detecting water leakage and understanding consumption behaviors at both microscale and macroscale. Implemented at Lille University's Scientific Campus, this research utilizes Automated Meter Reading (AMR) to collect real-time water supply and consumption data. The research successfully identified several significant leak events by analyzing this data with the CFPD method on weekly and daily scales. The analysis of the data resulted in identifying the seasonal and operational consumption patterns across different periods of the year. The findings highlight the effectiveness of the CFPD method in achieving water conservation and operational efficiency, consequently contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 concerning clean water and sanitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pricing is an economic instrument traditionally used to reduce water demand. However, its effective implementation requires knowledge of the extent to which users reduce water consumption with increasing water prices. The price elasticity of water demand has been estimated using econometric regression, which relies on cross-sectional and time-series water data. As an alternative, we propose the use of agent-based modelling, which does not require reliable historical data on water prices and consumption and enables the simulation of multiple scenarios with different consumer profiles, behaviour profiles and water price changes, thereby allowing comprehensive understanding of price elasticity estimates. To illustrate the potential use of agent-based modelling for the estimation of water demand price elasticity, we performed an empirical application to a residential area in Chile. Price elasticity estimates ranged from −0.0159 to −0.1036 (mean −0.0250), indicating that residential water consumption is inelastic to price changes. This result is consistent with previous findings. Agent-based modelling is an alternative for the ex-ante assessment of the potential effectiveness of water pricing policies intended to reduce residential water demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the principle of water supply and demand flow and the natural flow of water, this paper analyzes the flow direction and discharge of water resources in the study area. In order to provide scientific and systematic implementation suggestions for regional water resource protection management and ecological compensation, a SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model was constructed to quantify the water resource supply of the upper Hanjiang River basin at three spatial scales: pixel, sub-basin, and administrative unit. The water demand at the three spatial scales was calculated using the LUCC (Land Use and Land Coverage) and water consumption index. The supply and benefit zones under different spatial and temporal scales were obtained. Simultaneously, this study uncovered the spatiotemporal dynamics inherent in water resource supply and demand, alongside elucidating the spatial extent and flow attributes of water supply. The ecological compensation scheme of water resource supply–demand was preliminarily determined. The findings indicate an initial increase followed by a decrease in both the water supply and demand in the upper reaches of the Han River, accompanied by spatial disparities in the water supply distribution. The direction of the water supply generally flows from branch to main stream. The final ecological compensation scheme should be combined with natural conditions and economic development to determine a reasonable financial compensation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water, a fundamental and indispensable resource necessary for the survival of living beings, has become a pressing issue in numerous regions worldwide due to scarcity. Urban areas, where the majority of the global population resides, witness a substantial consumption of blue water, particularly in commercial buildings. This study investigates the potential for enhancing water efficiency within an ongoing high-rise office building construction situated in a tropical climate. The investigation utilizes the green building guidelines of leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) through a case-study-based research approach. Strategies included using efficient plumbing fixtures (such as high air–water ratio fixtures and dual-flush toilets), the selection of native plants, implementing a suitable irrigation system, introducing a rainwater harvesting system (RWHS) and improving the mechanical ventilation and air conditioning (MVAC) system. The results showed a 55% reduction in water use from efficient fixtures, a 93% reduction in landscaping water needs and a 73% overall water efficiency with a RWHS from the baseline design. Additionally, efficient cooling towers and the redirection of condensed water into the cooling tower make-up water tank improved the overall water efficiency to 38%, accounting for the water requirements of the MVAC system. The findings of this study can contribute to more sustainable and water-efficient urban development, particularly in regions facing water scarcity challenges. The significance of these findings lies in their potential to establish industry standards and inform policymakers in the building sector. They offer valuable insights for implementing effective strategies aimed at reducing blue water consumption across different building types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of drinking water containing aluminum levels that exceed regulatory limits (e.g., the WHO's guideline value of 0.1–0.2 mg/L) may be associated with the potential risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. However, according to the analyses conducted, it was observed that the scientific evidence on this topic is still limited and contradictory within the scientific community. A bibliometric analysis of 390 articles published between 1979 and 2023 and a systematic review of 20 original articles found that interest in this topic has been decreasing in recent years. The most recent studies focus on the relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease, suggesting that exposure to high levels of aluminum in drinking water may increase the risk of developing this disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Nevertheless, other studies have concluded that there is no clear causal relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease. These studies suggest that other factors, such as age, genetics, or exposure to other toxins, may play a more significant role in the development of this condition. More comprehensive studies with improved methodological quality are needed to better understand the relationship between aluminum and Alzheimer's disease and to establish a definitive conclusion on this subject. Of the 20 articles systematically reviewed, 12 (60%) reported a positive association between aluminum exposure in drinking water and increased risk of Alzheimer's disease, while 8 (40%) found no significant association. Five studies (25%) were large-scale epidemiological investigations with robust methodologies. However, the current evidence remains insufficient to establish a definitive causal relationship, highlighting the need for more conclusive research in this area [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the current status of water resource utilization and explore the coordination degree of the coupled human–water–ecosystem in the Tarim River Basin, we used the water shortage rates and index of WUE to analyze the dynamic changes in water shortage and water use efficiency. We also applied the Gini coefficient to study the evolutionary trend of the degree of matching between water consumption and GDP in each sector. Based on the above analysis, we developed a human–water–ecosystem coupling coordination degree model incorporating various indicators relevant to the three subsystems to quantitatively assess the coupled and coordinated development status of the three subsystems of the human–water–ecosystem in the basin from 2004 to 2020. The main findings are as follows: (1) The Tarim River Basin suffers from water shortage in dry years, with a prominent supply–demand contradiction. In the severe drought years of 2009 and 2014, the water shortage rates reached 10.20% and 10.93%, respectively. (2) From 2004 to 2020, the Tarim River Basin's water use efficiency (WUE), and its five prefectures showed a clear upward trend. On a multi-year average, Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture had the highest WUE, while the Hotan region had the lowest. (3) The multi-year average value of the match between water consumption and GDP for the entire basin is 0.28. By industry, the primary industry's match between water consumption and GDP is higher, while the secondary and tertiary industries have lower matches. (4) From 2004 to 2020, the coordination degree of coupled human–water–ecosystem in the five prefectures showed different degrees of upward trend, generally developing towards better coordination. In terms of multi-year averages, Bayingol Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture, located in the east, has the highest degree of coupled coordination. Meanwhile, Hotan, in the south, lags significantly behind the remaining four regions. Therefore, the Tarim River Basin should further improve and optimize the development model of sustainable water resource use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates whether informative feedback on consumption can nudge water saving. We launched a five-month online information campaign which involved around 1,000 households located in the province of Milan (Italy) with a smart meter. A group of households received monthly reports via email on their per capita daily average water consumption, including a social comparison component. The Intention to Treat (ITT) analysis shows that, compared to a benchmark group, the units exposed to the intervention reduced their per capita water consumption by around 6% (25.8 liters per day or 6.8 gallons). Being able to observe the email opening rate, we find that the ITT effect is mainly driven by complying units. Through an Instrumental Variable approach, we estimated a Local Average Treatment Effect equal to 54.9 liters per day of water saving. A further Regression Discontinuity Design analysis shows that different feedback on consumption class size differentially affected water saving at the margin. We also found that the additional water saving increased with the number of monthly reports, though it did not persist two months after the campaign expired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research is focused on the water usage patterns in two student residences—one for male students (Residence I) and the other for female students (Residence II). Surveys and measurements of flushing cisterns, taps, and shower flows were conducted to understand water use behaviors. Scenario 1 proposed replacing washbasin and kitchen taps and installing flow reducers in showers, while Scenario 2 combined Scenario 1 with a rainwater harvesting system for recharging flush cisterns. Showers were found to be the most water-consuming devices, accounting for 46% and 61.41% of water consumption in Residences I and II, respectively, followed by kitchen taps (31.51% in Residence I and 11.52% in Residence II). The flushing cistern consumption was 7.02% in Residence I and 13.22% in Residence II. The implementation of Scenario 1 anticipates a 13% reduction in total water consumption in Residence I and a 10% reduction in Residence II. The reduction in hot water consumption would result in a decrease in annual electricity consumption by 27.8% and 23.06% in Residence I and II, respectively. With the implementation of Scenario 2, the total potential water savings for Residence I could increase to 19.98%, and for Residence II, it could rise to 23.17%. The proposed measures aim to enhance water sustainability in these buildings and can be replicated elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Petroleum Geology & Recovery Efficiency is the property of Petroleum Geology & Recovery Efficiency and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water consumption dynamics lead to pressure fluctuations at network nodes, potentially associated with pipe leakages or unreliable supply within a water distribution system. Efficient management of secondary water supply system (SWSS) could enhance inflow modes of its essential component (i.e., storage tank) of potential implication on pressure control and water quality maintenance. In this study, a novel computational framework was developed to determine the optimal inflow profiles of storage tanks, where a water supply system simulation model was integrated with the particle swarm algorithm-based optimization for demand peak staggering. Experimental investigations on an example water supply system revealed that, as compared to the control of float ball valves, the optimizing regulation of SWSS tanks remarkably reduced water pressure oscillations by approximately 70%, correspondingly with the minimum pressure elevating and the maximum pressure declining among network nodes. Furthermore, the enhancing regulation schemes allowed water levels to fluctuate within an effective range, thus decreasing water retention time and facilitating associated water quality safety. Sensitivity analysis from our simulations indicates that increasingly appropriate tank number and size magnified the regulation capability, thereby reinforcing the promotion effect of optimizing control schemes on the system performance. The proposed approach is expected to provide theoretical support for optimizing the dynamic operations and management of SWSSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]