The present drinking water purification system in Egypt uses surface water as a raw water supply without a preliminary filtration process. On the other hand, chlorine gas is added as a disinfectant agent in two steps, pre- and post-chlorination. Due to these reasons most of water treatment plants suffer low filtering effectiveness and produce the trihalomethane (THM) species as a chlorination by-product. The Ismailia Canal represents the most distal downstream of the main Nile River. Thus its water contains all the proceeded pollutants discharged into the Nile. In addition, the downstream reaches of the canal act as an agricultural drain during the closing period of the High Dam gates in January and February every year. Moreover, the wide industrial zone along the upstream course of the canal enriches the canal water with high concentrations of heavy metals. The obtained results indicate that the canal gains up to 24.06x10(6) m3 of water from the surrounding shallow aquifer during the closing period of the High Dam gates, while during the rest of the year, the canal acts as an influent stream losing about 99.6x10(6) m3 of its water budget. The reduction of total organic carbon (TOC) and suspended particulate matters (SPMs) should be one of the central goals of any treatment plan to avoid the disinfectants by-products. The combination of sedimentation basins, gravel pre-filtration and slow sand filtration, and underground passage with microbiological oxidation-reduction and adsorption criteria showed good removal of parasites and bacteria and complete elimination of TOC, SPM and heavy metals. Moreover, it reduces the use of disinfectants chemicals and lowers the treatment costs. However, this purification system under the arid climate prevailing in Egypt should be tested and modified prior to application.
Egypt ; Industry ; Seasons ; Water Microbiology ; Water Movements ; Water Pollutants ; Water Purification ; methods ; Water Supply ; analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The otolith organs serve for gaze stabilization, posture control, and spatial orientation by sensing linear accelerations of head movements. But, the clinical vestibular testings are generally focused on the function of horizontal semicircular canal. Unilateral otolithic dysfunction cannot be identified and lateralized because a surviving intact otolith can support bidirectional responses. The aim of study was to test unilateral otolith function by applying caloric stimulation to unilateral labyrinth. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We made a magnetic search coil system combined with tilt apparatus for a rabbit and measured three-dimensional eye movements. Responses were evoked by position change and cold caloric stimulation. Unilateral ear was irrigated with ice water in various static head positions, and the dynamic changes of the existing eye deviations were observed. RESULTS: Static head tilts produced compensatory eye deviations. In the resting position, after cold caloric stimulation of each ear, the directions of eye deviations were in reverse of the vertical eye movement plane. In both lateral tilt positions, the eye deviations decreased after caloric stimulation of the lower ear, and increased after stimulation of the upper ear in the vertical plane. In the pitch down position, the eye deviations decreased after caloric stimulation of each ear in the torsional plane. CONCLUSION: Cold caloric stimulation evoked regular dynamic changes of the otolithic eye deviations produced by static head positions. We propose that this method might be useful for lateralization and evaluation of the unilateral otolith dysfunction.
Acceleration ; Caloric Tests ; Ear ; Ear, Inner ; Eye Movements ; Head ; Head Movements ; Ice ; Otolithic Membrane* ; Posture ; Rabbits* ; Semicircular Canals ; Water

Sodium is the major cation of the extracellular fluid and the primary determinant of extracellular osmolality. Therefore, hypernatremia causes water movement out of cells, while hyponatremia causes water movement into cells, resulting in cellular shrinkage and cellular swelling, respectively. Serious central nervous system symptoms may complicate both conditions. Since hypernatremia and hyponatremia are accompanied by abnormalities in water balance, it is essential to understand the mechanisms regulating extracellular osmolality and volume as well as the pathophysiology of hypernatremia and hyponatremia, in order to manage both conditions with swiftness and safety.
Central Nervous System ; Extracellular Fluid ; Hypernatremia* ; Hyponatremia* ; Osmolar Concentration ; Sodium ; Water Movements

Hypertonicity(hypernatremia) of extracellular fluid causes water movement out of cells, while hypotonicity(hyponatremia) causes water movement into cells, resulting in cellular shrinkage or cellular swelling, respectively. In most part of the body, the osmolality of extracellular fluid is maintained within narrow range(285-295 mOsm/kgH2O) and some deviations from this range are not problematic in most tissue of the body except brain. On the other hand, the osmolality in the human renal medulla fluctuates between 50 and 1,200 mOsm/kgH2O in the process of urine dilution and concentration. The adaptation of renal medullary cells to the wide fluctuations in extracellular tonicity is crucial for the cell survival. This review will summarize the mechanisms of urine concentration and the adaptation of renal medullary cells to the hypertonicity, which is mediated by TonEBP transcription factor and its target gene products(UT- A1 urea transporter etc.).
Brain ; Cell Survival ; Extracellular Fluid ; Hand ; Humans ; Osmolar Concentration ; Transcription Factors ; Urea ; Water Movements

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The caloric test is considered to be one of the most sensitive parameters in the diagnosis of peripheral vestibular disorders, although it can test only the function of the lateral semicircular canals. In this study, the authors measured the eye movements and visual suppression of caloric nystagmus in cats three dimensionally using a magnetic search coil system. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Three-dimensional (3-D) eye movement responses to an ice water caloric stimulus were studied with the six normal cats positioned in an upright position (lateral semicircular canal vertical). Visual suppression of caloric nystagmus was also investigated. RESULTS: All animals showed eye movements in the horizontal, torsional and vertical planes. Of the three nystagmus components, the horizontal component showed the fastest eye velocity during caloric stimulation. In light, a slight, but certain degree of visual suppression in was recognized in cats. CONCLUSION: The caloric nystagmus response involves a complex eye movement response comprising the horizontal, vertical and torsional nystagmus components. The 3-D analysis system with a magnetic search coil is useful to investigate the eye movement during caloric stimulation when the cat is awake.
Animals ; Caloric Tests ; Cats* ; Diagnosis ; Eye Movements ; Ice ; Nystagmus, Physiologic* ; Semicircular Canals ; Water

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in natural ecology and social environment after the construction of the dam in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and to understand the social behavior status and education backgrounds of the local residents, and to analyze the potential impact of these factors on schistosomiasis spreading.

METHODSData of nature and social economy after the construction of the dam in the Three Gorge area were collected, and a cross-sectional study with questionnaire survey on information including social demographic characteristics, people's production and life style, knowledge about schistosomiasis was conducted among natives, emigrations.

RESULTSAfter the construction of the dam, as the stream became slower, the water-level fluctuating zone on the bank of the reservoir was formed. The main source of drinking water and daily life activity are mainly depends on the river supplying (accounting about 68.7% and 75.8%, respectively); due to the needs of farming, washing cloths and vegetables, 45.6% of resident had a close contact with river water. People with away-from-home employment among emigrations were increased from 5.7% to 18.7%. The proportion of using hygienic lavatory was 88.6%. The main source of water for drinking and daily life among emigrations was tap water (85.4% and 87.0%). The residents had no awareness about the health hazard for schistosomiasis, with less health information

CONCLUSIONThe natural environment of reservoir areas and the life style are risk factors for the spread of schistosomiasis. The improved sanitation condition and the economy construction after the construction of the dam is propitious to keeping away from the introduction of schistosomiasis. However, people with away-from-home employment among emigrations are still at risk of schistosomiasis.

Animals ; China ; Fresh Water ; Humans ; Life Style ; Rain ; Schistosoma japonicum ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; epidemiology ; transmission ; Social Behavior ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Water Movements ; Water Pollution ; Workplace

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vestibular toxicity can be usually monitored by a caloric test, but measuring eye movements including nystagmus is also helpful in the evaluation of vestibulotoxic process. To understand the vestibular signs during bilateral vestibulotoxic process, we observed three dimensional serial changes of eye movements and the results of caloric test in cats using a magnetic search coil system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three-dimensional (3-D) eye movement responses to ice water caloric stimulus and spontaneous, positional, positioning, and post head shaking nystagmus in five cats were serially evaluated at 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 days, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months after inducing bilateral vesitibulotoxicity by subcutaneous injection of streptomycin. Histologic changes of vestibular system were also observed. RESULTS: Bilateral vestibulotixicity which showed no response to ice water caloric stimulus was induced within 2 weeks with streptomycin injection. Positional, positioning and post head shaking nystagmus were present during vestibulotoxic process. Caloric nystagmus did not reappear within 6 months and histologic finding in crista ampullaris of lateral semicircular canal showed marked degeneration of the hair cells and nerves. CONCLUSION: Observation of positional, positioning and post head shaking nystagmus as well as ice water caloric test will be helpful to monitor vestibulotoxic process.
Animals ; Caloric Tests ; Cats* ; Eye Movements ; Hair ; Head* ; Ice ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Nystagmus, Physiologic ; Semicircular Canals ; Semicircular Ducts ; Streptomycin ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of water content in soil on physiological characters and yield of Artemisia annua.

METHODThe pot experiment was applied and activity of protective enzyme, biomass and artemisinin accumulation were measured under different water treatments.

RESULT AND CONCLUSIONThe results showed that contents of osmotic adjustable substances, activity of protective enzyme, biomass and artemisinin accumulation were greatly affected by water content in the soil. Under water stress the water content in leave decreased, relative plasmalemma permeability increased, proline quickly accumulated to promote water retaining capability of cell, POD, CAT and SOD cooperated to reduce lipid peroxidation and reduced cell damage, and biomass decreased. At the seedling stage, the content of artemisinin and yield reached the maximal when the water content in soil was between 50%-55%. At the beginning of the branching stage, the content of artemisinin was the highest at the water content of 50%-55%, while the yield reached the maximal at the water content of 70%-75%. At the end of branching stage, the content of artemisinin was the highest at the water content of 40%-45%, while the yield reached the maximal at the water content of 60%-65%. In conclusion, the optimum water content in soil was between 50%-55% at the seedling stage, at the branching stage, higher water content was beneficial for the higher yield.

Antimalarials ; analysis ; pharmacology ; Artemisia annua ; chemistry ; physiology ; Artemisinins ; analysis ; Biomass ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plant Transpiration ; Seedlings ; Soil ; analysis ; Water ; Water Movements

The salivary glands produce 1.5L of fluid per day. As in other exocrine organs, the general mechanism in the salivary glands is that water movement occurs secondary to osmotic driving forces created by active salt transport. Therefore, high water permeability in the salivary glands is expected to have a variety of aquaporin (AQP), a water channel. Although some AQPs have been known to be present in the salivary glands, roles of parasympathetic nerve in AQP expression have not yet been examined. This study was designed to examine the changes of AQPs and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in the submandibular glands after parasympathetic denervation. Right chorda-lingual nerve was cut, and each right (experiment) and left (control) submandibular gland was excised at 1, 3, 7, 14, 30 days after denervation. The denervated right submandibular glands were resulted in weight loss and morphologic changes, including cell loss and atrophy, as the time elapsed after parasympathetic denervation increased, whereas there were no histologic alteration in control side. AQP5 which is known to reside in apical membrane and secretory caraliculi of the submandibular acini were gradually underexpressed according, as the time after denervation increased. Expression of AQP4 in submandibular ductal epithelium was down-regulated after denervation. Besides, AQP3 and 8, which is known to be present in basolateral membrane of the glandular acini, were gradually underexpressed after denervation, similar to the pattern of other types. Expression of ERK, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, was downregulated after parasympathetic denervation in the submandibular gland. These results suggest that parasympathetic nervous system regulates the expression of AQPs in salivary glands, and is in part mediated by ERK pathway.
Animals ; Aquaporins* ; Atrophy ; Denervation ; Epithelium ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Membranes ; Parasympathectomy* ; Parasympathetic Nervous System ; Permeability ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Rats* ; Salivary Glands ; Submandibular Gland* ; Water ; Water Movements ; Weight Loss

OBJECTIVE: Several water channels (aquapoins; AQP) that belong to the MIP (major intrinsic protein) family have identified. In the selected tissues including red blood cells or renal tubules, water movements are abundant and/or physiologically important. Unexpectedly, a high water permeability of human and ram sperm has been reported. Recent studies showed that AQP7 and AQP8 are present in testes so that the high water permeability of human sperm suggested to be mediated by AQPs. METHOD: To identify the identity of aquaporins expressed in testes, RT-PCR was performed using degenerative primers, which were designed to correspond to highly conserved sequences surrounding the Asn-Pro-Ala (NPA) motifs in the aquaporins. New expressed AQP series were reconfirmed by immunohistochemical study using rabbit polyclonal antibodies. RESULTS: DNA sequencing of PCR products revealed that AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA as well as AQP7 and AQP8 are expressed in human and rat testes, AQP2 are expressed in spermatozoa, interstitial cells and myofibroblasts and AQP3 are expressed in myofibroblasts of semineferous tubules on immunocytochemical stain. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that multiple aquaporins are expressed in testes, and that they may have important roles in the spermatogenesis and the germ cell function of testis.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Aquaporins* ; Conserved Sequence ; Erythrocytes ; Germ Cells ; Humans* ; Myofibroblasts ; Permeability ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats* ; RNA, Messenger ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Spermatogenesis ; Spermatozoa ; Testis* ; Water Movements