The potential of data exploration methods in identifying the relationship between short-period (daily) water consumption and meteorological factors

The purpose of the work was to identify the hidden relationship between water consumption and meteorological factors, using principal component analysis. In addition, clusters of similar days were identified based on relationships identified by k-means. The study was based on data from the city of Toruń (Poland). The analysis was based on daily data from 2014–2017 divided into three groups. Group I included data from the entire period, Group II- from warm half-years (April–September), and Group III-from cold half-years (January–March and October–December). For Groups I and II the extent of water consumption was explained by two principal components. PC1 includes variables that increase water consumption, and PC2 includes variables that lessen water demand. In Group III, water consumption was not linked to any component. The k-means method was used to identify clusters of similar days. In terms of PC1, the most numerous days were Saturdays, and in terms of PC2 Sundays and holidays. It was determined that further research aimed at explaining the specificity of water consumption on particular days of the week is appropriate.

Do consumption and reward simulation words on labels increase the appeal of water?

Consumers’ daily water consumption remains below the recommended level, possibly because of more rewarding alternatives such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). Previous research has shown that taste and reward expectations play a key role in food and drink choices, and that thinking about drinks in terms of consuming and enjoying them (i.e., simulations) predicts desire and intake. Here, we examined whether labels using consumption and reward simulation words increased the appeal of water. In three pre-registered experiments with regular consumers of SSBs (N = 1355), we presented water labels with words related to the rewarding consumption experience of water (e.g., “refreshing”, “cool”), with conventional descriptions of water that emphasised its origin and purity, or with brand names only. We assessed participants’ anticipated reward of and desire for water (Exp. 1, 2, 3), simulations of drinking water, and water attractiveness (Exp. 2 and 3). Contrary to our expectations, waters with consumption and reward-focused labels were not rated more favourably than waters with conventional labels, but both were rated higher than brand-only labels. Our findings suggest that the appeal of water cannot easily be increased by emphasising the rewarding consumption experience through language only. Consumers may have a relatively fixed representation of what water tastes and feels like, and future research could test alternative approaches to increase water consumption among SSB consumers.

The legacy of large dams in the United States

The sustainability of large dams has been questioned on several grounds. One aspect that has been less explored is that the development of dams and reservoirs often enables agricultural expansion and urban growth, which in turn increase water consumption. As such, dam development influences, while being influenced by, the spatial and temporal distribution of both supply and demand of water resources. In this paper, we explore the interplay between large dams, patterns of population growth and agricultural expansion in the United States over the past two centuries. Based on a large-scale analysis of spatial and temporal trends, we identify three distinct phases, in which different processes dominated the interplay. Then, we focus on agricultural water use in the Southwest region (Arizona, California and Nevada) and explore chicken-and-egg dynamics where water supply partly meets and partly fuels water demand. Lastly, we show that the legacy of dams in the United States consists of a lock-in condition characterized by high levels of water consumption, especially in the Southwest, which leads to severe water crises and groundwater overexploitation when droughts occur.

Water and beverage consumption among children aged 4–13 years in France: analyses of INCA 2 (Étude Individuelle Nationale des Consommations Alimentaires 2006–2007) data

ObjectiveTo examine the consumption of plain water among children in France and compare total water intakes with guidelines issued by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).DesignNationally representative data were used to assess food, beverage and water consumption by sex, age group (4–8 years, 9–13 years), income-to-poverty ratio, eating occasion and location. Beverages were classified into nine groups: water (tap or bottled), milk, 100 % fruit juice, sodas, fruit drinks, hot beverages, sports drinks and flavoured waters. Total water volume in relation to energy intake (litres/kcal) was also examined.SettingINCA 2 study (Étude Individuelle Nationale des Consommations Alimentaires 2006–2007).SubjectsFrench children (n 835) aged 4–13 years.ResultsTotal water intakes were accounted for by plain water (34 %), beverages (26 %) and food moisture (40 %). Plain water could be tap (18 %) or bottled (16 %). Older children drank more plain water than did younger children and boys drank more plain water than did girls. No socio-economic gradient for plain water consumption was observed. About 90 % of children did not meet the EFSA water intake recommendations. The daily water shortfall ranged from 367 to 594 ml/d. Water-to-energy ratio was 0·75–0·77 litres/1000 kcal (4184 kJ). Children drank milk at breakfast and plain water during lunch and dinner. Caloric beverages provided 10 % of dietary energy; consumption patterns varied by eating location.ConclusionsTotal water intakes among young children in France were below EFSA-recommended levels. Analyses of beverage consumption patterns by eating occasion and location can help identify ways to increase water consumption among children.

Promotion of water consumption in elementary school children in San Diego, USA and Tlaltizapan, Mexico

Objective. Consumption of water may help promote health and prevent obesity in children by decreasing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. This study used evidence-based strategies to increase water consumption in Mexican-American and Mexican children. Materials and methods. In 2012, two schools in San Diego, USA and two other in Tlaltizapan, Mexico were recruited to Agua para Niños (Water for Kids), a program designed to promote water consumption among elementary grade students. Guided by operant psychology, the intervention focused on school and classroom activities to encourage water consumption. One control and one intervention school in each country wereincluded. Results. Agua para Niños resulted in increases in observed water consumption and bottle possession among US and Mexican students. Teacher receptivity to the program was very positive in both countries. Conclusions. Agua para Niños yielded sufficiently positive behavioral changes to be used in a future fully randomized design, and to contribute to school nutrition policy changes.

Effect of intracerebroventricular angiotensin II on body weight and food intake in adult rats

We recently reported that intracerebroventricular infusions of ANG II decreased food intake and increased energy expenditure in young rats. The aim of the present study was to determine if intracerebroventricular ANG II has similar effects in adult rats. The time course of the effect was also investigated with the idea that at earlier time points, a potential role for increased hypothalamic expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) in the anorexia could be established. Finally, the contribution of ANG II-induced water drinking to the decrease in food intake was directly investigated. Rats received intracerebroventricular saline or ANG II using osmotic minipumps. Food intake, water intake, and body weight were measured daily. Experiments were terminated 2, 5, or 11 days after the beginning of the infusions. ANG II (∼ 32 ng·kg−1·min−1) produced a transient decrease in food intake that lasted for 4–5 days although body weight continued to be decreased for the entire experiment most likely due to increased energy expenditure as evidenced by increased uncoupling protein-1 mRNA expression in brown adipose tissue. At 11 and 5 days, the expression of CRH mRNA was decreased. At 2 days, CRH expression was not suppressed even though body weight was decreased. The decrease in food intake and body weight was identical whether or not rats were allowed to increase water consumption. These data suggest that in adult rats ANG II acts within the brain to affect food intake and energy expenditure in a manner that is not related to water intake.

Response of steers to dry season protein supplementation on improved pastures

A dry season meat-and-bone supplement fed to steers grazing improved legume-based pastures in northern Australia provided a significant liveweight advantage during three out of four dry seasons. An apparent negative response was attributed to a shortage of dry matter. Analyses of blood, bone and pasture samples and correlations of liveweight change with blood and bone measurements indicated the primary response to the supplement was probably to nitrogen. Feeding the supplement did not reduce the total time spent grazing but it did increase water consumption. The potential benefits of a protein supplement on improved pastures are discussed