Agricultural Water Use Management of Sistan Region under Virtual Water Approach Using WEAP Model

Agriculture is the largest user of freshwater in the world. One of the practical solutions for managing agricultural water resources in arid and semi-arid regions is to calculate the amount of water consumption in the process of agricultural crops through the virtual water index. The aim of this study was to use virtual water to manage water consumption in the agricultural sector of the Hirmand catchment. The need for irrigation of agricultural crops in the catchment was obtained using CROPWAT software. Then, the current and future status of water supply and demand was investigated using the WEAP model for agricultural crops in the catchment in the current cultivation pattern of the region. After calculating the virtual water content of the crops, the cultivation pattern was presented based on it and with emphasis on the need for irrigation. The water demand for crops in the virtual water scenario of the cultivation pattern was investigated using the WEAP model. The results showed that the need for irrigation of crops in the Hirmand catchment was 7847 m3/ha and the virtual water content of crops was 2.353 m3/kg. The agricultural sector consumes 70.10% of the total water supply in the Hirmand catchment. In the current situation, the total annual demand of water for crops is 1011×106 m3, of which 67.13% is supplied and 32.87% is not supplied. If the current situation continues for the next 15 years, the agricultural sector will face water shortages of 6099×106 m3. By applying the virtual water scenario, the demand for agricultural water could be decreased by 180×106 m3/yr. Finally, it was found that if the priority of water allocation between the agricultural sector and the drinking sector be the same, the drinking sector will face an annual water shortage of 18×106 m3

Study of efficacy of date kernel ash on removal of nitrate from aqueous solutions (isothermic and kinetic study)

زمینه و هدف: در چند دهه گذشته، حضور غلظت بالای نیترات در آب آشامیدنی به یک نگرانی جدی تبدیل شده که باعث بروز اختلالاتی در سلامتی انسان به خصوص اطفال می شود؛ که با استفاده از روش های فیزیکی- شیمیایی و بیولوژیکی می توان آنرا حذف نمود. در این تحقیق میزان حذف نیترات از محلول های آبی با استفاده از خاکستر هسته خرما، مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی که در مقیاس آزمایشگاهی انجام شد، اثر غلظت اولیه نیترات (50، 100 و 150 میلی گرم بر لیتر) با PH (3، 5، 7 و 9)، زمان ماند (15، 30، 60، 120 و 180 دقیقه) و وزن جاذب (4/0، 6/0 و 8/0 گرم) مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. غلظت نیترات با استفاده از دستگاه اسپکتروفتومتر در دو طول موج 220 و 275 نانومتر اندازه گیری شد. کلیه آزمایشات و آنالیز نمونه به روش کتاب روش های استاندارد آب و فاضلاب انجام شد. یافته ها: افزایش دوز جاذب از 4/0 گرم به 8/0 گرم در 100 میلی لیتر از محلول نیترات با غلظت 50 و 100 میلی گرم در لیتر به ترتیب منجر به افزایش راندمان جذب از 75 به 91 و از 53 به 65 گردید. افزایش PH اولیه محلول از 3 به 9 منجر به کاهش راندمان جذب از 52 به 8 شد. داده های به دست آمده در این تحقیق، از ایزوترم فروندلیچ (98/0R2=) و جذب نیترات از مدل سینتیکی شبه درجه دوم تبعیت می کند (999/0R2=). نتیجه گیری: نتایج مطالعه حاضر نشان داد که خاکستر هسته خرما جاذب طبیعی و ارزان قیمتی است که می توان از آن برای حذف آلاینده های زیست محیطی استفاده کرد

Factors affecting the Virtual Water Trade of Agricultural Crops of Iran (Application of Panel Vector Autoregression Model)

The physical trade of agricultural crops from a country to another one involves the virtual transfer of water resources or the virtual water trade. Because agricultural commodities contain a lot of water embedded. The aim of this paper was to quantify the volumes of the virtual water trade of crops of Iran in 2001–2018 and to assess the effective factors on the virtual water trade of crops of Iran. Initially, water footprint and virtual water trade were calculated. Macroeconomic variables affecting virtual water trade were identified and determined by the virtual water import and export functions. Then, the unit root test of the variables was performed by the Im Pesaran Shin test and the PVAR model was used for the factors affecting the virtual water trade. The results showed that the relative export price has the greatest impact on the virtual water export of crops of Iran. The shock on the income of major trading partners has led to a decline in virtual water exports. Regarding the import function, it was found that relative import prices and domestic income has a major impact on the import of virtual water of Iranian agricultural crops. The calculations of the virtual water showed that Iran has exported 90.896 × 109 m3 virtual water from 2001 to 2018. Out of which, approximately 27.06% was green water, 66.10% blue water, and 6.84% gray water. The amount of virtual water import estimated was 280.260 × 109 m3, 75% of which was green water

new controversies and puzzles

Nature uses an Mn cluster for water oxidation, and thus, water oxidation using Mn clusters is interesting when used in artificial water-splitting systems. An important question is whether an Mn cluster is a true catalyst for water oxidation or not. Herein, an Mn–K cluster was investigated for electrochemical water oxidation to find the true and the kinetically dominant catalyst using X-ray absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and electrochemical methods. The experiments showed that conversion into nanosized Mn oxide occurred for the cluster, and the nanosized Mn oxides are the true catalyst for water oxidation

Antibacterial activity of Mangifera indica seed extracts combined with common antibiotics against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii isolates

In this project, we employed ethanolic (EMI) and aqueous (AMI) extracts of mango (Mangifera indica L., Anacardiaceae) fruit seeds as a modulator of antibiotic resistance against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii to evaluate natural compounds isolated from by-products or waste of edible plants. We also investigated the effect of these extracts alone and in combination with standard classes of antibiotics in the desired strains. M. indica seeds were processed and exploited using ethanol and water. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of clinical isolates were examined against EMI and AMI extracts, followed by seven antibiotics of ceftazidime, ciprofloxacin, penicillin, amikacin, meropenem, ampicillin, and colistin. The checkerboard method evaluated the synergistic action between mango kernel extract (EMI) and seven antibiotics. EMI extract significantly revealed antimicrobial properties against MDR A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa with synergistic effects with the applied antibiotics. The considerable antibacterial efficacy of ethanolic extract of M. indica seeds can have great curative value as antibacterial drugs against infections caused by MDR P.aeruginosa and A. baumannii

Psychometric properties of Persian version of wound-QOL questionnaire among older adults suffering from chronic wounds

BackgroundPatients with chronic wounds experience various biopsychosocial problems which severely affects their quality of life (QoL). Thus, a Persian instrument to assess the QoL of these patients is required. This study aimed to determine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the wound-QOL questionnaire.MethodsThis methodological study was performed on Iranian patients during 2021–2022. The translation was carried out via forward-backward method. Face validity was addressed with 10 patients and content validity with 12 wound specialists. Construct validity was also assessed by performing exploratory factor analysis (EFA) (n = 100) and convergent validation with EQ-5D-3L plus Pain VAS Score and known-groups validity. The reliability was assessed by internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient and test–retest.ResultsA total of 100 patients with chronic wounds were included in the study. Two factors with cumulative variance of 65.39% were extracted during EFA. The results revealed a significant and high correlation between the total scores of wound-QOL questionnaire, the Persian version of EQ-5D-3L (p = 0.000, r = 0.502), and Pain score (0–10; p = 0.000, r = 0.627). The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.743 and stability of the questionnaire (α = 0.872) was confirmed. In confirming the known-groups validity, the results showed that this tool can differentiate the QOL of patients with different wounds.ConclusionThe Persian version of the wound-QOL questionnaire is a valid and reliable questionnaire which can measure the QoL of patients with chronic wounds. This instrument can be used in clinical evaluation as well as research purposes across the Iranian population

Partners upplevelse av mastektomi – en förändrad relation

Bakgrund: Bröstcancer är den vanligaste cancersjukdomen i världen bland kvinnor. Behandlingen av bröstcancer kan bland annat vara en mastektomioperation vilket kan påverka kvinnorna både fysiskt och psykiskt. Dessutom kan de sociala relationerna förändras vilket även inkluderar förhållandet med deras partner. Sjuksköterskan behöver bedöma både patientens och de anhörigas behov av stöd.SyfteSyftet med studien var att beskriva upplevelsen av mastektomioperation på grund av bröstcancer ur ett partnerperspektiv.Metod:En litteraturstudie med en systematisk sökning och innehållsanalys. Databaserna PubMed och Cinahl användes för att söka fram 7 artiklar. En manuell sökning utfördes för att hitta ytterligare 3 artiklar.ResultatDet framkom tre kategorier i resultatet. Förändrad relation, känslor och att vara ett stöd. Partners upplevde att relationen förändrats, med påverkan i den sexuella intimiteten och kommunikationen. Partners upplevde flera negativa känslor som sorg, ilska och orättvisa. De ville dock stödja kvinnan som de ofta ansåg som stark och beslutsfattande trots sin sjukdom.SlutsatserDet finns ett behov av interventioner från vården för att hjälpa partners att hantera förändringarna och ge dem möjlighet till att stötta kvinnan. Genom att öka sjuksköterskans kunskap om partners upplevelse blir det lättare att inkludera dem i vården. Vidare forskning behövs om partners upplevelse och lämpliga interventioner.Nyckelord: Bröstcancer, Mastektomi, Partner, Upplevels

Partners upplevelse av mastektomi – en förändrad relation

Bakgrund: Bröstcancer är den vanligaste cancersjukdomen i världen bland kvinnor. Behandlingen av bröstcancer kan bland annat vara en mastektomioperation vilket kan påverka kvinnorna både fysiskt och psykiskt. Dessutom kan de sociala relationerna förändras vilket även inkluderar förhållandet med deras partner. Sjuksköterskan behöver bedöma både patientens och de anhörigas behov av stöd.SyfteSyftet med studien var att beskriva upplevelsen av mastektomioperation på grund av bröstcancer ur ett partnerperspektiv.Metod:En litteraturstudie med en systematisk sökning och innehållsanalys. Databaserna PubMed och Cinahl användes för att söka fram 7 artiklar. En manuell sökning utfördes för att hitta ytterligare 3 artiklar.ResultatDet framkom tre kategorier i resultatet. Förändrad relation, känslor och att vara ett stöd. Partners upplevde att relationen förändrats, med påverkan i den sexuella intimiteten och kommunikationen. Partners upplevde flera negativa känslor som sorg, ilska och orättvisa. De ville dock stödja kvinnan som de ofta ansåg som stark och beslutsfattande trots sin sjukdom.SlutsatserDet finns ett behov av interventioner från vården för att hjälpa partners att hantera förändringarna och ge dem möjlighet till att stötta kvinnan. Genom att öka sjuksköterskans kunskap om partners upplevelse blir det lättare att inkludera dem i vården. Vidare forskning behövs om partners upplevelse och lämpliga interventioner.Nyckelord: Bröstcancer, Mastektomi, Partner, Upplevels

Impacts of Iranian Agricultural Water Resources Conservation Policies (Case of Baft County in Dashtab Plain)

Water scarcity has made water management one of the top priorities in the world because of climate change and population growth on the one hand and increasing demand for food on the other. The present study aimed to simulate the effects of conservation policies on water resources in the Dashtab plain, Iran, using the positive mathematical programming (PMP) method. Data were collected by a questionnaire for which 136 questionnaires were filled by randomly sampled experts of Agricultural Jihad Organization. The results showed that out of the three policies adopted in this study including limiting irrigation inputs, reducing irrigation input subsidies, and reducing crop prices, reducing subsidies on irrigation inputs were the best policy to protect irrigation resources and farmers' incomes

DECAY RESISTANCE, HARDNESS, WATER ABSORPTION, AND THICKNESS SWELLING OF A BAGASSE FIBER/PLASTIC COMPOSITE

The decay resistance, hardness, water absorption, and thickness swelling of a bagasse fiber/polypropylene composite were evaluated. Brown- (Coniophora puteana) and white-rot (Trametes versicolor) fungal treatments were applied for 8, 12, and 16 weeks according to BS 838:1961 with the kolle-flask method. The brown- and white-rotted, and control composite samples were immersed in distilled water at 2 h and 24 h to measure the water absorption and thickness swelling of samples according to the ASTM D 570-98 requirements. Results indicated that the both lowest (3.2%) and the highest (7.2%) weight loss were observed in the white-rotted composite samples for 8 and 16 weeks fungal exposure times, respectively. The highest hardness (77.6 Shore D) was noted in the control composite samples, and the lowest hardness (65.5 Shore D) was recorded in the white-rotted composite samples. The highest water absorption (10.5%) was observed in the brown-rotted composite samples for 8 weeks fungal exposure time and after 24 h immersion in distilled water, and the lowest (3.8%) was noted in the control composite samples after 2 h immersion in distilled water. The highest thickness swelling (6.3%) was observed in the control composite samples after 24 h immersion in distilled water, and the lowest thickness swelling (1.9%) was found in the white-rotted composite samples for 16 weeks fungal exposure time and after 2 h immersion in distilled water