scholarly journals Household-Reported Availability of Drinking Water in Africa: A Systematic Review

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mair L. H. Thomas ◽  
Andrew A. Channon ◽  
Robert E. S. Bain ◽  
Mutono Nyamai ◽  
Jim A. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Uncertainty Measurement ◽  
Average Water ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Availability Measure

Domestic drinking water supplies prone to interruptions and low per capita domestic water availability have been frequently reported among African households. Despite expanded international monitoring indicators that now include metrics of water availability, the range of methods used for measuring and monitoring availability remains unclear in Africa. Few household surveys have historically assessed water continuity and per capita availability, and both pose measurement challenges. This paper aims to examine the methods used to measure availability and synthesise evidence on African domestic water availability by systematically reviewing the literature from 2000–2019. Structured searches were conducted in five databases: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, GEOBASE, Compendex and PubMed/Medline. A total of 47 of 2406 reports met all inclusion criteria. Included studies were based on empirical research which reported the household’s perspective on a water availability measure. Most studies had methodological problems such as small sample sizes, non-representative sampling and incomplete reporting of methods and measures of uncertainty. Measurement of drinking water availability is primarily reliant on quantifying litres/capita/day (LPCD). Only four (9%) of the included studies reported an average water availability over the international benchmark of 50 LPCD. This pattern of water insufficiency is broadly consistent with previous studies of domestic water availability in Africa. The review highlights the need for high-quality and representative studies to better understand the uncertainties and differences in household water availability across Africa, and the methods used to measure it.

Drinking water policy in the frame of the Directive 2000/60/EC with emphasis on drinking water prices

2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 243-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Safarikas ◽  
N.V. Paranychianakis ◽  
O. Kotselidou ◽  
A.N. Angelakis
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Policy ◽  
Economic Cost ◽  
Water Pricing ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Pricing Policy ◽  
Real Cost ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Average Water

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, which has been transposed into the national legislation with the Law 3199/2003 (MoEPPW, 2003), will cause substantial changes in the drinking water pricing policy and the domestic water authorities involved such as the Municipal Enterprises for Water Supply and Sewerage (DEYA). Up to date, drinking water pricing policy has been based only on the recovery of the economic cost and in some cases neither this. Therefore, domestic water is not priced taking into account its real cost. Based on data provided by 74 DEYA representing 2.10 million inh, the average water price is estimated to be 1.19 €/m3. Analysis of these data reveals a deviation of 41.67% from the real cost. The relation of consumers with the Enterprise, but also that of management and employees, should be a bidirectional relation, in order to be comprehensible by all. Thus, an agreement that will point out that the most excellent quality of water presupposes water policy which will consider sustainability and the current requirements of the Enterprise and of course the consumers should be established between them.

The epidemiology and possible mechanisms of disinfection by-products in drinking water

2009 ◽  
Vol 367 (1904) ◽  
pp. 4043-4076 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Nieuwenhuijsen ◽  
James Grellier ◽  
Rachel Smith ◽  
Nina Iszatt ◽  
James Bennett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Epidemiological Evidence ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
By Products

This paper summarizes the epidemiological evidence for adverse health effects associated with disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water and describes the potential mechanism of action. There appears to be good epidemiological evidence for a relationship between exposure to DBPs, as measured by trihalomethanes (THMs), in drinking water and bladder cancer, but the evidence for other cancers including colorectal cancer is inconclusive and inconsistent. There appears to be some evidence for an association between exposure to DBPs, specifically THMs, and little for gestational age/intrauterine growth retardation and, to a lesser extent, pre-term delivery, but evidence for relationships with other outcomes such as low birth weight, stillbirth, congenital anomalies and semen quality is inconclusive and inconsistent. Major limitations in exposure assessment, small sample sizes and potential biases may account for the inconclusive and inconsistent results in epidemiological studies. Moreover, most studies have focused on total THMs as the exposure metric, whereas other DBPs appear to be more toxic than the THMs, albeit generally occurring at lower levels in the water. The mechanisms through which DBPs may cause adverse health effects including cancer and adverse reproductive effects have not been well investigated. Several mechanisms have been suggested, including genotoxicity, oxidative stress, disruption of folate metabolism, disruption of the synthesis and/or secretion of placental syncytiotrophoblast-derived chorionic gonadotropin and lowering of testosterone levels, but further work is required in this area.

scholarly journals Characterizing the Urban Mine—Simulation-Based Optimization of Sampling Approaches for Built-in Batteries in WEEE

Recycling ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 19
Author(s):  
Paul Martin Mählitz ◽  
Nathalie Korf ◽  
Kristine Sperlich ◽  
Olivier Münch ◽  
Matthias Rösslein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Distributed Data ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Representative Sampling ◽  
Comprehensive Knowledge ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Almost All

Comprehensive knowledge of built-in batteries in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is required for sound and save WEEE management. However, representative sampling is challenging due to the constantly changing composition of WEEE flows and battery systems. Necessary knowledge, such as methodologically uniform procedures and recommendations for the determination of minimum sample sizes (MSS) for representative results, is missing. The direct consequences are increased sampling efforts, lack of quality-assured data, gaps in the monitoring of battery losses in complementary flows, and impeded quality control of depollution during WEEE treatment. In this study, we provide detailed data sets on built-in batteries in WEEE and propose a non-parametric approach (NPA) to determine MSS. For the pilot dataset, more than 23 Mg WEEE (6500 devices) were sampled, examined for built-in batteries, and classified according to product-specific keys (UNUkeys and BATTkeys). The results show that 21% of the devices had battery compartments, distributed over almost all UNUkeys considered and that only about every third battery was removed prior to treatment. Moreover, the characterization of battery masses (BM) and battery mass shares (BMS) using descriptive statistical analysis showed that neither product- nor battery-specific characteristics are given and that the assumption of (log-)normally distributed data is not generally applicable. Consequently, parametric approaches (PA) to determine the MSS for representative sampling are prone to be biased. The presented NPA for MSS using data-driven simulation (bootstrapping) shows its applicability despite small sample sizes and inconclusive data distribution. If consistently applied, the method presented can be used to optimize future sampling and thus reduce sampling costs and efforts while increasing data quality.

The greatest water reservoirs in the ancient Roman world and the “Piscina Mirabilis” in Misenum

2010 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 350-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. De Feo ◽  
S. De Gisi ◽  
C. Malvano ◽  
O. De Biase
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Water Supply ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Flowing Water ◽  
Water Reservoirs ◽  
Maximum Capacity ◽  
Roman World ◽  
Average Water ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Provide Drinking Water

The aim of the present study was to investigate the greatest water reservoirs in the ancient Roman world and, in particular, the “Piscina Mirabilis” in Misenum, in Southern Italy. In our study, we considered the reservoirs with a volume in the order of thousands of cubic metres, storing flowing water, set low in the ground or actually underground, and roofed over. In general, a Roman aqueduct was not built to provide drinking water, nor to promote hygiene, but either to supply the baths or for military aims. As a matter of fact, the population of Rome at the end of the 1st century AD had an average water supply of 1,550 L/d per capita especially used for baths. This circumstance required reservoirs of huge capacity. The reservoir of the Baths of Caracalla in Rome could contain over 80,000 m3 of water. The use of columns in a Roman reservoir was introduced in the ancient Constantinopolis and the Yerebatan Saray with a maximum capacity of almost 85,000 cubic metres can be considered the biggest Roman reservoir. While for military aims, the Piscina Mirabilis in Misenum can be considered the biggest Roman resevoirs used for military aims ever known until now (provide the Classis Praetoria Misenensis) with a volumetric capacity of 12,600 m3 of water.

Integrating Visual and Bayesian Statistical Analyses in Single Case Experimental Research to Evaluate the Effectiveness and Magnitude of a Comprehensive Behavioral Intervention

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prathiba Natesan ◽  
Smita Mehta
Keyword(s):  
Behavioral Intervention ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Rate Ratio ◽  
Visual Analysis ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Statistical Analyses ◽  
Data Types ◽  
Ratio Effect ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Single case experimental designs (SCEDs) have become an indispensable methodology where randomized control trials may be impossible or even inappropriate. However, the nature of SCED data presents challenges for both visual and statistical analyses. Small sample sizes, autocorrelations, data types, and design types render many parametric statistical analyses and maximum likelihood approaches ineffective. The presence of autocorrelation decreases interrater reliability in visual analysis. The purpose of the present study is to demonstrate a newly developed model called the Bayesian unknown change-point (BUCP) model which overcomes all the above-mentioned data analytic challenges. This is the first study to formulate and demonstrate rate ratio effect size for autocorrelated data, which has remained an open question in SCED research until now. This expository study also compares and contrasts the results from BUCP model with visual analysis, and rate ratio effect size with nonoverlap of all pairs (NAP) effect size. Data from a comprehensive behavioral intervention are used for the demonstration.

No Evidence that Experiencing Physical Warmth Promotes Interpersonal Warmth: Two Failures to Replicate Williams and Bargh (2008)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Chabris ◽  
Patrick Ryan Heck ◽  
Jaclyn Mandart ◽  
Daniel Jacob Benjamin ◽  
Daniel J. Simons
Keyword(s):  
Null Hypothesis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Sample Sizes ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Bayesian Analyses ◽  
Physical Warmth ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Interpersonal Warmth

Williams and Bargh (2008) reported that holding a hot cup of coffee caused participants to judge a person’s personality as warmer, and that holding a therapeutic heat pad caused participants to choose rewards for other people rather than for themselves. These experiments featured large effects (r = .28 and .31), small sample sizes (41 and 53 participants), and barely statistically significant results. We attempted to replicate both experiments in field settings with more than triple the sample sizes (128 and 177) and double-blind procedures, but found near-zero effects (r = –.03 and .02). In both cases, Bayesian analyses suggest there is substantially more evidence for the null hypothesis of no effect than for the original physical warmth priming hypothesis.

scholarly journals Non-Invasive Monitoring of Adrenocortical Activity in Three Sympatric Desert Gerbil Species

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Álvaro Navarro-Castilla ◽  
Mario Garrido ◽  
Hadas Hawlena ◽  
Isabel Barja
Keyword(s):  
Small Sample ◽  
Post Injection ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
Treatment Groups ◽  
Adrenocortical Activity ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Endocrine Status ◽  
Corticosterone Metabolites ◽  
Small Sample Sizes ◽  
Fecal Corticosterone Metabolites

The study of the endocrine status can be useful to understand wildlife responses to the changing environment. Here, we validated an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) to non-invasively monitor adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCM) in three sympatric gerbil species (Gerbillus andersoni, G. gerbillus and G. pyramidum) from the Northwestern Negev Desert’s sands (Israel). Animals included into treatment groups were injected with adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to stimulate adrenocortical activity, while control groups received a saline solution. Feces were collected at different intervals and FCM were quantified by an EIA. Basal FCM levels were similar in the three species. The ACTH effect was evidenced, but the time of FCM peak concentrations appearance differed between the species (6–24 h post-injection). Furthermore, FCM peak values were observed sooner in G. andersoni females than in males (6 h and 18 h post-injection, respectively). G. andersoni and G. gerbillus males in control groups also increased FCM levels (18 h and 48 h post-injection, respectively). Despite the small sample sizes, our results confirmed the EIA suitability for analyzing FCM in these species as a reliable indicator of the adrenocortical activity. This study also revealed that close species, and individuals within a species, can respond differently to the same stressor.

scholarly journals Use of Antiplatelet Agents Decreases the Positive Predictive Value of Fecal Immunochemical Tests for Colorectal Cancer but Does Not Affect Their Sensitivity

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 497
Author(s):  
Yoonsuk Jung ◽  
Eui Im ◽  
Jinhee Lee ◽  
Hyeah Lee ◽  
Changmo Moon
Keyword(s):  
Colorectal Cancer ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Screening Program ◽  
Antiplatelet Agents ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Antithrombotic Agents ◽  
Predictive Values ◽  
Prescription Rates ◽  
Small Sample Sizes

Previous studies have evaluated the effects of antithrombotic agents on the performance of fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) for the detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), but the results were inconsistent and based on small sample sizes. We studied this topic using a large-scale population-based database. Using the Korean National Cancer Screening Program Database, we compared the performance of FITs for CRC detection between users and non-users of antiplatelet agents and warfarin. Non-users were matched according to age and sex. Among 5,426,469 eligible participants, 768,733 used antiplatelet agents (mono/dual/triple therapy, n = 701,683/63,211/3839), and 19,569 used warfarin, while 4,638,167 were non-users. Among antiplatelet agents, aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol ranked first, second, and third, respectively, in terms of prescription rates. Users of antiplatelet agents (3.62% vs. 4.45%; relative risk (RR): 0.83; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78–0.88), aspirin (3.66% vs. 4.13%; RR: 0.90; 95% CI: 0.83–0.97), and clopidogrel (3.48% vs. 4.88%; RR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.61–0.86) had lower positive predictive values (PPVs) for CRC detection than non-users. However, there were no significant differences in PPV between cilostazol vs. non-users and warfarin users vs. non-users. For PPV, the RR (users vs. non-users) for antiplatelet monotherapy was 0.86, while the RRs for dual and triple antiplatelet therapies (excluding cilostazol) were 0.67 and 0.22, respectively. For all antithrombotic agents, the sensitivity for CRC detection was not different between users and non-users. Use of antiplatelet agents, except cilostazol, may increase the false positives without improving the sensitivity of FITs for CRC detection.

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