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This study evaluated alternatives to the main intake designs of spate irrigation structures. Relevant data were collected from a field and offices. Four scenarios were developed based on current problems. The Delft3D model was employed to simulate hydrodynamic and morphodynamic flow characteristics around the main intake. The study showed that increasing the deflection angle from 120° to 150° for a 3-m-wide intake can improve the irrigation water abstraction by 21%. Changing the width from 3 to 5 m at 120° can improve the irrigation water abstraction by 81%. In addition to changing the width, increasing the deflection angle to 150° can improve the spate irrigation water abstraction by 101%. These interventions did not reduce the sediment deposition at the intake. However, the enhanced supply of water through main spate flow gates may convince farmers not to block scour sluice gates. Based on the pure design, an intake width of 5 m and a deflection angle of 150° can be recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Multiple factors contribute to increased risk of dehydration in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which contributes to shortened survival independent of nutritional status. The assessment of hydration by doubly labeled water is restricted due to the limited availability of this gold standard technique for clinical use. This prompted us to examine the utility of urine-specific gravity (USG) as a predictor of hydration need in ALS subjects. Material and Methods: Using data from a multicenter study of 80 ALS subjects with 250 visits, we conducted a secondary analysis of the original data set from doubly labeled water experiments. We used a cross-section of the data (one visit per 75 subjects) in the model selection step ("test set"), and a repeated measures analysis in the validation step with data from 63 subjects and 142 follow-up visits. The sensitivity to detect inadequate water turnover rate (a surrogate for water intake) was the goal of the predictive model presented for clinical use. Results and discussion: The final predictive model to estimate water requirement included USG, gender, body mass index, and the ALSFRS gross motor subscale score. We developed a best-fit equation to estimate water intake from USG, determine hydration status, and improve clinical care of real-world ALS subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarises information from available literature to support the dietary guideline 'Drink Clean, Safe Water and/or Other Fluids Through-Out the Day Even if You Do Not Feel Thirsty' set for the elderly of South Africa (SA). Water is essential for life and is necessary for important functions of the body like maintenance of tissue structure, blood volume regulation, temperature regulation and excretion of metabolites through kidneys. Though water is necessary for all, the elderly are especially at risk of dehydration due to altered hormonal activity and body functions that reduce their sensitivity to thirst (water intake) and urination (water excretion). Total body water is also reduced in the elderly, so they are unable to buffer the effects of water loss in the body. Therefore, water intake should be monitored properly in the elderly so that they can lead a happy and healthy life and reduce the economic burden due to hospitalisation caused by water imbalance or dehydration, which is common in the elderly. Two litres of water per day is generally considered adequate, but there is no consensus regarding the exact requirement for water as need varies due to climate and physical activity levels. The importance of water to maintain bodily functions and the risk of dehydration substantiate the need for a dietary guideline to address the importance of clean and safe water/fluid consumption regularly throughout the day among the elderly in SA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three-dimensional numerical model was developed to better understand the hydrodynamics and sediment processes near the water intake of the Cardinal power plant. Sediment is represented with particles that are suspended, deposited or transported as bed load depending on particle size, flow turbulence and local bed shear stress, neglecting morphological changes. Validation against field velocity data indicated that buoyancy forces, originated by temperature gradients, need to be included to predict the observed flow pattern. The existing intake structures do not fully prevent the entrainment of warm water from the plant into the intake, which affects the plant efficiency, flow pattern and sediment deposition. Location of deposited particles and deposition rate predicted with the model compared well against observations in a physical model. However, computations at prototype scale show deviations from the physical model, suggesting that model scale effects in the physical model can be significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a study of hydration in ALS patients and its effects on survival. This was a multicenter study over 48 weeks in 80 ALS patients who underwent 250 individual measurements using doubly labeled water (DLW). Total body water (TBW) and water turnover (a surrogate for water intake) were 3.4% and 8.6% lower, respectively, in patients compared to age- and gender-matched healthy controls, and both significantly decreased over study duration. In 20% of patients, water turnover measured over 10 d was 2 standard deviations below the mean value in healthy controls. In a separate clinic cohort of 208 patients, water intake estimated from a de novo equation created from common clinical endpoints was a prognostic indicator of survival. Regardless of nutritional state assessed by BMI, survival was two-fold longer in the group above the median for estimated water intake, suggesting that hydration may be a more important predictor of survival than malnutrition. Risk factors for poor hydration were identified. Water intake equations recommended by US Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in healthy elderly were inaccurate for use in ALS patients. We developed equations to estimate TBW and water intake in ALS patients for use in clinics to accurately estimate hydration and improve clinical care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experiment was conducted to examine the effects on mortality, production performance, water intake (WI) and organ weight ofSatureja khuzistanicaessential oil (SkEO) using 720 one-day-old Arian broiler chicks in a 42-day trial. Experimental treatments were addition of 0 (control−), 200, 300, 400 and 500 mg/L SkEO or 500 mg/L polysorbate-80 (control+) into drinking water. The birds were kept under natural ambient temperatures 4–6°C above standard recommendation from days 22 to 42 of age. Addition of SkEO into drinking water at 200 and 500 mg/L decreased weight gain (P< 0.05) of the birds from days 29 to 35 of age with no differences in feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) compared to control groups (P> 0.05). Addition of 300 and 500 mg/L SkEO into water increased mortality rate of the birds mainly from days 29 to 42 of age. The calculated European broiler index was greater for the birds receiving drinking water supplemented with 400 mg/L of SkEO compared with the other birds. In conclusion, administration of SkEO at 400 mg/L through drinking water to heat stressed broiler chickens may result in improved production performance efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]