Effect of drip irrigation circuits design and lateral line length on: II-flow velocity and velocity head

The objectives of the work were to study the effect of drip irrigation circuits (DIC) and lateral lines lengths (LLL) on: Flow velocity (FV) and velocity head (VH). Laboratory tests were con- ducted at Irrigation Devices and Equipments Tests Laboratory, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt. The experimental design of laboratory experiments was split in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Laboratory tests carried out on three irrigation lateral lines 40, 60, 80 m (LLL1, LLL2; LLL3) under the following three drip irrigation circuits (DIC): a) one manifold for lateral lines or closed circuits with one manifold of drip irrigation system (CM1DIS); b) closed circuits with two manifolds for lateral lines (CM2DIS), and c) traditional drip irrigation system (TDIS) as a control. Concerning FV values, DIC and LLL treatments could state in the following ascending orders: TDIS \u3c CM1DIS \u3c CM2DIS and LLL1 \u3c LLL2 \u3c LLL3, respectively. FV varied from 0.593 m·sec–1 to 1.376 m·sec–1. i.e. FV \u3c 5 ft·sec–1 and this is necessary to avoid the effect of water hammer in the main and sub-main lines, but in lateral line, it can cause silt and clay precipitation problems. The differences in FV among DIC and LLL were significant at the 1% level. The effect of interaction: DIC X LLL on FV values, were significant at the 1% level. The maximum and minimum values of FV were noticed in these interactions: CM2DIS X LLL3 and TDIS X LLL1, respectively. The following ascending orders TDIS \u3c CM1DIS \u3c CM2DIS and LLL1 \u3c LLL2 \u3c LLL3 expressed their effects on VH respectively. Differences in VH among DIC and/or LLL were significant at the 1% with few exceptions. The effects of interactions: DIC X LLL on VH were significant at the 1% level in some cases. The maximum and minimum values of VH were found in the interactions: CM2DIS X LLL3 and TDIS X LLL1, respectively

Effects of drip irrigation circuit design and lateral line lengths: I—On pressure and friction loss

Laboratory tests were conducted at the Irrigation Devices and Equipment’s Test Laboratory, Agricultural Engineering Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt. The experimental design of laboratory experiments was split in randomized complete block design with three replicates. Laboratory tests carried out on three irrigation lateral lines of 40, 60, 80 m under the following three drip irrigation circuit (DIC) designs; 1) one manifold for lateral lines or closed circuits with one manifold of drip irrigation system (CM1DIS); 2) closed circuits with two manifolds for lateral lines (CM2DIS), and 3) traditional drip irrigation system (TDIS) as a control. The aims of the work were to study the effect of drip irrigation circuits (DIC) and lateral lines lengths (LLL; where): (LLL1 = 40 m, LLL2 = 60 m, and LLL3 = 80 m) on pressure head (PH) and friction loss (FL). Regarding to LLL and according to PH values, DIC designs could be ranked in the following ascending order: TDIS \u3c CM1DIS \u3c CM2DIS. The differences in PH among DIC de-signs were significant at the 1% level. The de-pressive effects of LLL on PH could be ranked in the following ascending order: LLL1 \u3c LLL2 ≤ LLL3. Differences in PH among LLL treatments were significant at the 1% level except that be-tween LLL2 and LLL3. The effects of interactions among: DIC × LLL on PH were significant at the 1% level with some exceptions. The highest value of PH (9.5 m) and the lowest one (6.05 m) were achieved in the interactions of CM2DIS × LLL1 and TDIS × LLL3, respectively. The shapes of the energy gradient lines were affected by DIC and LLL treatments used through their effect on ΔH/H ratio. However, they followed similar trends. According to the FL values, DIC and LLL treatments could be ranked in the following descending orders TDIS \u3e CM1DIS \u3e CM2DIS and LLL1 \u3e LLL2 \u3e LLL3. The differences in FL among DIC and LLL were significant and the effects of interactions among DIC × LLL on FL were significant at the 1% level. The maximum and mi- nimum values of FL were obtained in the inter-actions: TDIS × LLL3 and CM2DIS × LLL1, respectively. Therefore, the CM2DIS system is recommended for use where technically feasible

Energy and water saving by using modified closed circuits of drip irrigation system

The aim of this research was determine the energy and water use efficiencies under the modification of closed circuit drip irrigation systems designs. Field experiments carried out on transgenic maize (GDH, LL3), (Zea Mays crop) under two types of closed circuits: a) One manifold for lateral lines or Closed circuits with One Manifold of Drip Irrigation System (CM1DIS); b) Closed circuits with Two Manifolds of Drip Irrigation System (CM2DIS), and c) Traditional Drip Irrigation System (TDIS) as a control. Three lengths of lateral lines were used, 40, 60, and 80 meters. PE tubes lateral lines: 16 mm diameter; 30 cm emitters distance, and GR built-in emitters 4 lph when operating pressure 1 bar under Two levels slope conditions 0% and 2%. Experiments were conducted at the Agric. Res. Fields., Soil and Plant & Agric. System Dept., Agric. Faculty, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale (SIUC), Illinois, USA. Under 0% level slope when using CM2DIS the increase percent of Energy Use Efficiency (EUE) were 32.27, 33.21, and 34.37% whereas with CM1DIS were 30.84, 28.96, and 27.45% On the other hand when level slope 2% were with CM2DIS 31.57, 33.14, and 34.25 while CM1DIS were 30.15, 28.98, and 27.53 under lateral lengths 40, 60 and 80 m respectively relative to TDIS. Water Use Efficiency (WUE) when level slope 0% under CM2DIS were 1.67, 1.18, and 0.87 kg/m3 compared to 1.65, 1.16, and 0.86 kg/m3 with CM1DIS and 1.35, 1.04, and 0.75 kg/m3 with TDIS whereas with level slope 2% when using CM2DIS were 1.76, 1.29, and 0.84 kg/m3 compared to 1.77, 1.30, and 0.87 kg/m3 with CM1DIS and 1.41, 1.12, and 0.76 kg/m3 (for lateral lengths 40, 60, and 80 meters respectively). Water saving percent varied widely within individual lateral lengths and between circuit types relative to TDIS. Under slope 0% level CM2DIS water saving percent values were 19.26, 12.48, and 14.03%; with CM1DIS they were 18.51, 10.50, and 12.78%; and under slope level 2% with CM2DIS they were 19.93, 13.26, and 10.38% and CM1DIS were 20.49, 13.96, and 13.23% (for lateral lengths 40, 60, 80 meters respectively). The energy use efficiency and water saving were observed under CM2DIS and CM1DIS when using the shortest lateral length 40 meters, then lateral length 60 meters, while the lowest value was observed when using lateral length 80 meters this result depends on the physical and hydraulic characteristics of the emitters, lateral line uniformity, and friction losses. CM2DIS was more energy use efficiency, EUE, water saving, and WUE than either CM1DIS or TDIS

Education, Birth Order, and Family Size

We introduce a general framework to analyze the trade-off between education and family size. Our framework incorporates parental preferences for birth order and delivers theoretically consistent birth order and family size effects on children's educational attainment. We develop an empirical strategy to identify these effects. We show that the coefficient on family size in a regression of educational attainment on birth order and family size does not identify the family size effect as defined within our framework, even when the endogeneity of both birth order and family size are properly accounted for. Using Danish administrative data we test the theoretical implications of the model. The data does not reject our theory. We find significant birth order and family size effects in individuals' years of education thereby confirming the presence of a quantity-quality trade off

Modification of water application uniformity among closed circuit trickle irrigation systems

The aim of this research was determine the ma- ximum application uniformity of closed circuit trickle irrigation systems designs. Laboratory tests carried out for Two types of closed circuits: a) One manifold for lateral lines or Closed cir-cuits with One Manifold of Trikle Irrigation Sys-tem (COMTIS); b) Closed circuits with Two Manifolds of Trikle Irrigation System (CTMTIS), and c) Traditional Trikle Irrigation System (TTIS) as a control. Three lengths of lateral lines were used, 40, 60, and 80 meters. PE tubes lateral lines: 16 mm diameter; 30 cm emitters distance, and GR built-in emitters 4 lph when operating pressure 1 bar. Experiments were conducted at the Agric. Eng. Res. Inst., ARC, MALR, Egypt. With COMTIS the emitter flow rate was 4.07, 3.51, and 3.59 lph compared to 4.18, 3.72, and 3.71 lph with CTMTIS and 3.21, 2.6, and 2.16 lph with TTIS (lateral lengths 40, 60, and 80 meters respec-tively). Uniformity varied widely within individual lateral lengths and between circuit types. Under CTMTIS uniformity values were 97.74, 95.14, and 92.03 %; with COMTIS they were 95.73, 89.45, and 83.25 %; and with TTIS they were 88.27, 84.73, and 80.53 % (for lateral lengths 40, 60, 80 meters respectively). The greatest uniformity was observed under CTMTIS and COMTIS when using the shortest lateral length 40 meters, then lateral length 60 meters, while the lowest value was observed when using lateral length 80 me-ters this result depends on the physical and hy-draulic characteristics of the emitter and lateral line. CTMTIS was more uniform than either COMTIS or TTIS. Friction losses were decreased with CTMTIS in the emitter laterals at lengths 40 meters compared to TTIS and COMTIS. There-fore, differences may be related to increased friction losses when using TDIS and COMDIS

Early and accurate detection of melanoma skin cancer using hybrid level set approach

Digital dermoscopy is used to identify cancer in skin lesions, and sun exposure is one of the leading causes of melanoma. It is crucial to distinguish between healthy skin and malignant lesions when using computerised lesion detection and classification. Lesion segmentation influences categorization accuracy and precision. This study introduces a novel way of classifying lesions. Hair filters, gel, bubbles, and specular reflection are all options. An improved levelling method is employed in an innovative method for detecting and removing cancerous hairs. The lesion is distinguished from the surrounding skin by the adaptive sigmoidal function; this function considers the severity of localised lesions. An improved technique for identifying a lesion from surrounding tissue is proposed in the article, followed by a classifier and available features that resulted in 94.40% accuracy and 93% success. According to research, the best method for selecting features and classifications can produce more accurate predictions before and during treatment. When the recommended strategy is put to the test using the Melanoma Skin Cancer Dataset, the recommended technique outperforms the alternative

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised

Mapping development and health effects of cooking with solid fuels in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000-18 : a geospatial modelling study

Background More than 3 billion people do not have access to clean energy and primarily use solid fuels to cook. Use of solid fuels generates household air pollution, which was associated with more than 2 million deaths in 2019. Although local patterns in cooking vary systematically, subnational trends in use of solid fuels have yet to be comprehensively analysed. We estimated the prevalence of solid-fuel use with high spatial resolution to explore subnational inequalities, assess local progress, and assess the effects on health in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) without universal access to clean fuels.Methods We did a geospatial modelling study to map the prevalence of solid-fuel use for cooking at a 5 km x 5 km resolution in 98 LMICs based on 2.1 million household observations of the primary cooking fuel used from 663 population-based household surveys over the years 2000 to 2018. We use observed temporal patterns to forecast household air pollution in 2030 and to assess the probability of attaining the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target indicator for clean cooking. We aligned our estimates of household air pollution to geospatial estimates of ambient air pollution to establish the risk transition occurring in LMICs. Finally, we quantified the effect of residual primary solid-fuel use for cooking on child health by doing a counterfactual risk assessment to estimate the proportion of deaths from lower respiratory tract infections in children younger than 5 years that could be associated with household air pollution.Findings Although primary reliance on solid-fuel use for cooking has declined globally, it remains widespread. 593 million people live in districts where the prevalence of solid-fuel use for cooking exceeds 95%. 66% of people in LMICs live in districts that are not on track to meet the SDG target for universal access to clean energy by 2030. Household air pollution continues to be a major contributor to particulate exposure in LMICs, and rising ambient air pollution is undermining potential gains from reductions in the prevalence of solid-fuel use for cooking in many countries. We estimated that, in 2018, 205000 (95% uncertainty interval 147000-257000) children younger than 5 years died from lower respiratory tract infections that could be attributed to household air pollution.Interpretation Efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean cooking fuels need to be substantially increased and recalibrated to account for subnational inequalities, because there are substantial opportunities to improve air quality and avert child mortality associated with household air pollution. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.Peer reviewe