Analysis of solar radiation measurements at EI-Kharga (250 N, 300E), Egypt

Daily global solar. radiation data of EI-Kharga for five year (1984-88) have been processed, analysed and classified into eight radiation levels spaced at an interval of 4.19 MJ m-2 day-l. Mean annual monthly and daily total the diurnal variation, and the frequency distribution of daily totals of global solar radiation are computed and discussed. A correlation between the hourly values of the clearness and diffuse indices were obtained and the recommended correlation ,equations were also given. The, results presented in this analysis are encouraging since they Indicate that periods of several days of low radiation of less than 8.38 MJm , day are rare. This In turn means that the weather sequence variations are not expected, to be of great Importance when considering the storage problems Involved In solar process design.

Sudden changes in crop environment, as influenced by total solar eclipse

The Division of Agricultural Meteorology, at Pune of IMD conducted an experiment at Principal Evapotranspiration Observatory, Canning, W.B., during October, 1995 to study the sudden changes in crop environment. The present study revealed that both the crop canopy temperature and observatory temperature at different heights recorded sharp fall of around 2.0°C at 0900 hr (IST) on the eclipse day. The relative humidity (% ) increased sharply at 0900 hr (IST) on the eclipse day within crop canopy as well as within observatory. The soil temperature dropped suddenly at 10 and 20 cm depths of the subsoil and delayed reversal of the soil temperature gradient occurred on the eclipse day; the grass minimum temperature was 21.2°C. Bright sunshine hours reduced by 0.8 on 'the eclipse day as compared to the preceding and succeeding days. The wind during the eclipse period was almost calm between 0900 -0930 hr (IST). The daily total ET recorded on the eclipse day was the minimum. The rate of evapotranspiration was less than half as compared to the other days, as recorded at 0830 hr (IST) (0.2 mm) on the eclipse day, which was closely followed by that observed at 1130 hr (IST) (0.3 mm).

Analysis of anomalies in the control probes of the Rozgrund dam

The subject of the contribution is to clarify the causes of anomalous development of water levels in some observation objects of the Rozgrund dam. To clarify the anomalous development of the water levels, a detailed analysis of the development of water levels in all observation probes built on the dam, the water levels in the reservoir and the daily total precipitation was performed. An important knowledge is the amplitudes of fluctuations in water levels in observation probes and in the water levels in the reservoir. The calculations of correlation coefficient, expressing the relationship between water level in individual boreholes and the water level in the reservoir are another step in assessment of anomalies. Based on the knowledge obtained, it was possible to assess the degree of the influence of the water level in the reservoir on the development of the water level regime in observation objects. At the same time, it was also possible to detect the existence of other effects influenced the water levels in the probes, such as the leakage into their surroundings caused by precipitation or the impact of waters flowing from hillslopes.

The Association between Daily Total Dietary Nutrient Intake and Recent Glycemic Control States of Non-Pregnant Adults 20+ Years Old from NHANES 1999–2018 (Except for 2003–2004)

(1) Background: Although daily total dietary nutrient intakes were potentially important factors in maintaining glycemic balance, their overall effect on glycemic control was still unclear among American adults. Objectives: We aimed to examine the association between daily total dietary nutrient intake and recent glycemic control status (RGCS). Methods: This cohort was composed of 41,302 individuals from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The daily total intake of dietary nutrients and RGCS were independent and dependent variables, respectively. To evaluate their association, we carried out binary logistic regression, model fitting, linear discriminant analysis, and the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: The result of robust check model showed that only the daily total dietary vitamin B6 intake (adjusted OR = 0.848; 95% CI: 0.738, 0.973; p-value = 0.019) was significantly negatively correlated with RGCS. When daily total dietary vitamin B6 intake and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were used as independent variables and dependent variables, respectively, to fit the curves and lines, the established robust check model could distinguish American adults with different RGCS well. Moreover, the robust check model results of ROC analysis indicated that daily total dietary vitamin B6 intake might be a potential predictor for RGCS (AUC = 0.977; 95% CI: 0.974, 0.980; p-value < 0.001). (2) Conclusions: This study showed that only daily total dietary vitamin B6 intake was a beneficial factor in RGCS, but it might need further multicenter or prospective studies to verify whether vitamin B6 had biological implications and public health meaning for glycemic control among American adults (specifically referred to non-pregnant participants over 20 years old).

UJI BEBERAPA KONSENTRASI EKSTRAK UMBI GADUNG (Dioscorea hispida Dennst) TERHADAP HAMA KEONG MAS (Pomacea canaliculata L.)

Riau is one of a lowland rice producing provinces. One of the pests that can reduce rice productivity is the golden snail (Pomacea canaliculata L.). The solution for controlling the golden snail (P. canaliculata L.). Pest uses environmentally friendly control techniques, namely botanical pesticides of gadung tubers. This study aims to obtain a concentration of the extract of gadung tuber flour (Dioscorea hispida Dennst) which is effective in controlled the attack of golden snails (P. canaliculata L.) in lowland rice plants. This research was conducted experimentally using completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of five treatments and four replications, in order to obtain 20 experimental units. The treatments consisted of concentrations of gadung tubers extract, namely 0 g.l-1, 25 g.l-1, 50 g.l-1, 75 g.l-1, and 100 g.l-1. Observations included the initial dst time to snail death, lethal time 50 (LT 50), daily total mortality, and behavior changes in behavior. The results showed that the application of 100 g.l concentration of gadung tuber extract treatment caused the highest total mortality of golden snails (P. canaliculata L.) of 74.99%, but it was not effective yet in controlling the golden snail pest because it was not able to kill the golden snail above 80%.

Bidirectional associations between sedentary time and sleep duration among 12- to 14-year-old adolescents

Background The aim of this study was to investigate bidirectional associations between (prolonged) sitting time and sleep duration in 12- to 14-year-old adolescents using a between-subjects and within-subjects analyses approach. Methods Observational data were used from 108 adolescents (53% girls; mean age 12.9 (SD 0.7) years) from six schools in Flanders, Belgium. The Axivity AX3 triaxial accelerometer, worn on the thigh, was used to assess daily total sitting time and daily time spent in sedentary bouts of ≥30 min (as a proxy for prolonged sitting time). The Fitbit Charge 3 was used to assess nightly sleep duration. Both monitors were worn on schooldays only (ranging from 4 to 5 days). Linear mixed models were conducted to analyse the associations, resulting in four models. In each model, the independent variable (sleep duration, sitting time or prolonged sitting time) was included as within- as well as between-subjects factor. Results Within-subjects analyses showed that when the adolescents sat more and when the adolescents spent more time sitting in bouts of ≥30 min than they usually did on a given day, they slept less during the following night (p = 0.01 and p = 0.05 (borderline significant), respectively). These associations were not significant in the other direction. Between-subjects analyses showed that adolescents who slept more on average, spent less time sitting (p = 0.006) and less time sitting in bouts of ≥30 min (p = 0.004) compared with adolescents who slept less on average. Conversely, adolescents who spent more time sitting on average and adolescents who spent more time sitting in bouts of ≥30 min on average, slept less (p = 0.02 and p = 0.003, respectively). Conclusions Based on the between-subjects analyses, interventions focusing on reducing or regularly breaking up sitting time could improve adolescents’ sleep duration on a population level, and vice versa. However, the within-subjects association was only found in one direction and suggests that to sleep sufficiently during the night, adolescents might limit and regularly break up their sitting time the preceding day. Trial registration Data have been used from our trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04327414; registered on March 11, 2020).

Explaining daily total energy demand in British housing using linked smart meter and socio-technical data in a bottom-up statistical model

This paper investigates factors associated with variation in daily total energy consumption in domestic buildings using linked pre-COVID-19 smart meter, weather, building thermal characteristics, and socio-technical survey data covering appliance ownership, demographics, behaviours, and attitudes for a sub-sample of 617 British households selected from the Smart Energy Research Laboratory (SERL) Observatory panel.Linear mixed effects modelling resulted in marginal/conditional R2 of 0.68/0.83 and root mean squared error of 17.7 kWh/day, for daily gas and electricity use combined. Increased daily energy consumption was significantly associated (p-value&lt;0.05) with: households living in buildings with larger floor area, more rooms, that are older, have lower energy efficiency, and experience colder or less sunny weather; households with more adult occupants, more children, older adult occupants, fewer adults with qualifications, higher heating temperature setpoints, that do not try to save energy, and that do not put on more clothes rather than turning the heating on. The results demonstrate the value of smart meter data linked with contextual data for improving understanding of energy demand in British housing. Accredited UK researchers are invited to apply to access the data which has recently been updated to include over 13,000 households from across Great Britain.

A probe into the Multifractal Behaviour of Total Ozone Time Series through Detrended Fluctuation Analysis

The present study reports a multifractal detrended fluctuation analysis of total ozone time series. Considering daily total ozone concentration (TOC) data ranging from 2015 to 2019, we have created a new profile by subtracting the trend. Subsequently we have divided the profile \({X}_{i}\) into non intersecting segments of equal time scale varying from 25 to 30. Fitting a second order polynomial, we have eliminated the local trend from each segment and thereafter we have computed the detrended variance. Finally the multifractal behaviour has been identified and the singularity spectra has helped us in obtaining the generalised Hurst exponent which in this case has come out to be greater than 0.5.

Estimation of phosphorus requirements of sows based on 24-h urinary phosphorus excretion during gestation and lactation

Phosphorus requirements of reproducing sows were estimated using 24-h urinary P excretion. Thirty-six multiparous sows were fed one of six maize–soybean meal-based diets with total P ranging from 0·40 to 0·80 % in 0·08 % increments with a constant Ca:total P ratio (1·25:1). Diets were fed from day 7·5 ± 1 after breeding until the end of lactation (day 26 ± 1). Urine samples were collected in mid and late gestation (days 77·1 ± 2 and 112·4 ± 1) and early and late lactation (days 4·5 ± 1 and 18·2 ± 1). Phosphorus requirements were estimated using linear and nonlinear regression models. Based on a single 24-h urinary P excretion, estimated daily dietary total P requirements in mid and late gestation were 10·3 g (6·0 g standardised total tract digestible P, STTD P), and estimates for early and late lactation were 31·1 g (16·6 g STTD P) and 40·3 g (22·1 g STTD P), respectively. Plasma P and Ca concentrations were maintained within normal ranges at the estimated levels of P requirements. No differences among treatments were observed for plasma parathyroid hormone (P ≥ 0·06) and bone formation marker (P ≥ 0·16). In lactation, bone resorption marker decreased (P ≤ 0·001) as sows consumed more P. Among the analysed variables, urinary P was the most sensitive response to changes in dietary P intake. Urinary P excretion offers a practical method to estimate P requirements in sows. Our recommended daily total P requirements are 10·3 g for gestation and 35·7 g for lactation.