Tendency of Change in Water Quality of the Main Shirvan Collector Over a Long Period

The article examines the tendency of changes in the hydrochemical regime of the water of the Main Shirvan collector over a long period of time and the suitability of the collector water for irrigation. Continuous laboratory analyzes performed between 2004 and 2019 were compared to 1986. According to experimental data, it was determined that the hydrochemical regime of the collector water is gradually improving, and the salt content is decreasing. The degree of mineralization of the collector water decreased by 2.3 times, the total hardness by 2.2 times, the number of chloride ions by 10.5 times, the number of calcium ions by 1.3 times, the number of magnesium ions by 2.8 times, the total number of cations sodium and potassium decreased by 3.9 times. For 2004–2019 biochemical oxygen consumption in collector water increased 7.9 times, chemical oxygen demand increased 7.5 times, and the number of suspended particles increased 9 times. The amount of iron ions in water decreased by 2 times, while the amount of aluminum and zinc did not change. The suitability of collector water for irrigation was determined according to 7 internationally accepted assessment criteria. Collector water is considered suitable for irrigation in accordance with 6 assessment criteria — the degree of salinity, irrigation coefficient, sodium sorption coefficient, potential salinity, water alkalinity index and percentage of sodium, as well as 1 criterion not suitable for irrigation — the percentage of magnesium. Collector water can be used to irrigate crops.

Precise Monitoring of Soil Salinity in China’s Yellow River Delta Using UAV-Borne Multispectral Imagery and a Soil Salinity Retrieval Index

Monitoring salinity information of salinized soil efficiently and precisely using the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is critical for the rational use and sustainable development of arable land resources. The sensitive parameter and a precise retrieval method of soil salinity, however, remain unknown. This study strived to explore the sensitive parameter and construct an optimal method for retrieving soil salinity. The UAV-borne multispectral image in China’s Yellow River Delta was acquired to extract band reflectance, compute vegetation indexes and soil salinity indexes. Soil samples collected from 120 different study sites were used for laboratory salt content measurements. Grey correlation analysis and Pearson correlation coefficient methods were employed to screen sensitive band reflectance and indexes. A new soil salinity retrieval index (SSRI) was then proposed based on the screened sensitive reflectance. The Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), Multivariable Linear Regression (MLR), Back Propagation Neural Network (BPNN), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Random Forest (RF) methods were employed to construct retrieval models based on the sensitive indexes. The results found that green, red, and near-infrared (NIR) bands were sensitive to soil salinity, which can be used to build SSRI. The SSRI-based RF method was the optimal method for accurately retrieving the soil salinity. Its modeling determination coefficient (R2) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) were 0.724 and 1.764, respectively; and the validation R2, RMSE, and Residual Predictive Deviation (RPD) were 0.745, 1.879, and 2.211.

Remote Sensing Monitoring and Driving Force Analysis of Salinized Soil in Grassland Mining Area

To deal with the problem of soil salinization that exists widely in semi-arid grassland, the Shengli Coalfield in Xilinhot City was selected as the study area. Six periods of Landsat remote sensing data in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, and 2017 were used to extract the salinity index (SI) and surface albedo to construct the SI-Albedo feature space. The salinization monitoring index (SMI) was used to calculate and classify the soil salinization grades in the study area. The soil salinization status and its dynamic changes were monitored and analyzed. Combined with the logistic regression model, the roles of human and natural factors in the development of soil salinization were determined. The results were as follows: (1) The SMI index constructed using the SI-Albedo feature space is simple and easy to calculate, which is conducive to remote sensing monitoring of salinized soil. R2 of the SMI and soil salt content in the 2017 data from the study area is 0.7313, which achieves good results in the quantitative analysis and monitoring of soil salinization in the Xilinhot Shengli Coalfield. (2) The study area is a grassland landscape. However, grassland landscapes are decreasing year by year, and town landscapes, mining landscapes, and road landscapes are greatly increased. The areas of soil salinization reversion in the Shengli mining area from 2002–2005, 2005–2008, 2008–2011, 2011–2014, 2014–2017, and 2002–2017 were 65.64 km2, 1.03 km2, 18.44 km2, 0.9 km2, 7.52 km2, and 62.33 km2, respectively. The overall trend of soil salinization in the study area was reversed from 2002 to 2017. (3) The driving factors of salinized land from 2002 to 2008 are as follows: the distance to the nearest town landscape > the distance to the nearest mining landscape > the distance to the nearest road landscape. The driving factors of salinized land from 2008 to 2017 are as follows: the distance to nearest mining landscape > the distance to the nearest water landscape > the distance to nearest town landscape > altitude > aspect. Coal exploitation and town expansion have occupied a large amount of saline land, and petroleum exploitation and abandoned railway test sites have intensified the development of saline land. This study provides a reference for the treatment and protection of soil salinization in semi-arid grassland mining areas.

Excavated farmland with plastic mulching as a strategy in saving water and controlling soil salinization in dryland agricultural areas

Water shortage and soil salinization in gully farmland comprising sediment deposited farmland (SF) and excavated farmland (EF) have become a widespread concern in the loess hilly region. A two-year field experiment was conducted to assess the soil water content (SWC) and salt content (SSC) and their effect on the spring maize yield and water use efficiency in SF and EF. Eight treatments comprising flat cropping without mulching (1), ridge planting without mulching (2), ridge planting with plastic mulching (3), and ridge planting with straw mulching (4) were tested in the SF and EF plots, respectively. The results showed that the yield was higher in SF than EF, whereas the water use efficiency was significantly higher in EF because the bottom water flux was 117.4% higher in SF than EF (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the average SWC and yield (P < 0.01), thereby indicating that the yield was severely limited by the SWC. Thus, the higher water use efficiency in EF has important implications for alleviating water scarcity during agricultural production in this region. The risk of soil salinization was decreased greatly by treatment 3 where the SSC was decreased in EF and SF were 0.09 g kg–1 and 0.08 g kg–1, respectively. In addition, treatment 3 had the most significant impacts on the yield and water use efficiency. Our study provided appropriate land type and effective tillage measure for the sustainable development in dryland agricultural areas.

Exploration of Aceh traditional food: Chemical quality characterization of asam sunti in Banda Aceh

As a result of its diverse culture and nature, Indonesia is rich in traditional cuisine. In Aceh province, located in the western part of Indonesia, there is a special condiment known as asam sunti, made of fermented bilimbi (Averrhoa bilimbi L.). Asam sunti is used as a spice to give a sour taste and specific aroma in Acehnese cuisine. Although asam sunti is widely used by the people in Aceh, but until now there is no standard quality that shows the quality of asam sunti. The quality of a sam sunti products that existing on the market is very diverse, especially in colour and texture. This study aims to analyse the chemical quality of asam sunti obtained from several markets in the city of Banda Aceh. Samples were obtained from 5 markets, namely Gampong Baroe, Peunayong, Seutui, Ulee Kareng and Gampong Peuniti Market. Chemical parameters analysed were moisture content, ash content, salt content and titrated acid content. The result shows that asam sunti in Banda Aceh city market has diverse chemical characteristic with moisture content range 21.38%-33.8% with average 29.48%, ash content 0.13%-0.45% with average 0.27%, salt content 6.11%-18.34% with average 8.15% and titrated acid content 7.5%-14.5% with average 11%. This chemical data needs to be correlated in further research with the level of consumer preference through descriptive and hedonic sensory tests so that later a complete asam sunti quality character can be obtained and can be made into a standard that is practically and scientifically acceptable.

Preventive effect of rehabilitation training therapy on muscle quality in patients with stroke: A retrospective study

A retrospective analysis was conducted in 45 patients with stroke. All patients received three weeks of rehabilitation training. Body composition was examined using Bio-impedance analysis methods before and after training. Barthel index was used to evaluate activities of daily living before and after the intervention. After rehabilitation training, total body water, muscle mass, protein content, inorganic salt content, and skeletal muscle content were increased while body fat content and body fat percentage were significantly decreased. Barthel Index scores showed that the ability of daily living was improved after rehabilitation. In conclusion, rehabilitation training therapy may have protective effects on sarcopenia in patients with stroke. Keywords: Stroke, sarcopenia, rehabilitation training

Experimental study on the washing characteristics of fly ash from municipal solid waste incineration

The disposal of fly ash with high salt content has become an important bottleneck for the further application of municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI). In this study, the soluble salt content and composition of fly ash from different MSWI were analysed. The composition of fly ash was affected by incinerator type and flue gas cleaning system, especially the type of deacidification solvent. The soluble salt content in fly ash from MSW grate incinerator can be over 35.16%. Most of the soluble salt was calcium salt and chloride salt. The effect of washing parameters including liquid/solid (L/S) ratio and washing time on salt removal from fly ash were studied. Raw fly ash contained high chlorine (Cl) with the maximum of 19.83% and it can be significantly reduced by washing. Double-washing and secondary-washing had better performance than single-washing on salt removal. The secondary-washing did not only save water, but also reduced the energy cost during evaporation for crystallising soluble salt. Based on the analysis of variance (ANOVA), L/S ratio was the most principal factor for salt and Cl removal of fly ash by washing.

Strong Viscosity Increase in Aqueous Solutions of Cationic C22-Tailed Surfactant Wormlike Micelles

The viscoelastic properties and structure parameters have been investigated for aqueous solutions of wormlike micelles of cationic surfactant erucyl bis(hydroxyethyl) methylammonium chloride with long C22 tail in the presence inorganic salt KCl. The salt content has been varied to estimate linear to branched transition conditions due to screening of the electrostatic interaction in the networks. The local cylindrical structure and low electrostatic repulsion was obtained by SANS data. The drastic power law dependencies of rheological properties on surfactant concentrations were obtained at intermediate salt content. Two power law regions of viscosity dependence were detected in semi-dilute solutions related to “unbreakable” and “living” micellar chains. The fast contour length growth with surfactant concentration demonstrated that is in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Blood Profiles, and Gut Integrity of Growing Pigs Fed Pickled Fish Residue with Decreased Salt Content

This study investigated the growth performance, nutrient digestibility, blood profiles and gut integrity of growing pigs, in response to an increase in pickled freshwater fish residue (PFR) intake following a decrease in salt content. Ninety-six crossbred growing pigs [(Landrace × Large White) × Duroc] with a body weight of 23.65 ± 0.24 kg were randomly assigned to one of four treatments (6 pens/treatment, 4 pigs/pen) in a randomized complete block design. The treatments included: a corn-soybean meal based diet without PFR inclusion (CON) or with PFR addition at 5 (PFR5), 10 (PFR10), and 15% (PFR15), respectively. Desalting via soaking and stirring caused a positive reduction in the salt present on the surface of PFR. Over the 42-day feeding period, an increased level of PFR quadratically increased gain:feed ratio such that gain:feed ratio for PFR10 was greater than that for CON (p < 0.05). Pigs fed PFR10 had greater crude protein digestibility, and lower aspartate aminotransferase and crypt depth than those fed the CON diet (p < 0.05). The linear improvements in crude protein and ether extract digestibility, duodenal villus height, and villus:crypt ratio were observed as the PFR content increased (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant effects on average daily feed intake, dry matter and ash digestibility, blood metabolites (total Ca, P, creatinine, and alkaline phosphatase). Altogether, up to 10% PFR can be included in corn-soybean meal diet without impairing protein digestibility and hepatic enzyme alteration. In fact, administering PFR with lower salt content to growing pigs ultimately promotes their growth performance and gut integrity.