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fins-n-swag · 5 years ago

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(all I’ve learned while researching) Pac Man frog care masterpost

Seriously why has nobody done this.

Disclaimer: I am getting my first frog on January 4/5 2020. This will of course be updated with personal experience but for now just what I’ve found online.

Feel free to add/correct me on anything

The pac man frog: aka cornwells horned frog or Amazon horned frog

(albino variety)

First things first: prepare to spend a lot on pacmans. Like with any animal, they require the proper care and that can get expensive.

Pacmans are pretty hefty bois, with males reaching 4-5 inches and females reaching up to 8, keeping a circular shape. This means a bigger enclosure. Right now I have a ten gallon set up but I am prepared to upgrade if my frog outgrows. Aim for 10+ gallons. Floor space is most important as pacmans are a borrowing species. They require a minimum of 2 inches of substrate to submerse themselves in. They are an ambush predator, meaning they will sit and wait up to their eyes in substrate for the perfect meal to come wandering along. They can sit like this for days, even weeks at a time, perhaps only moving from one side of the enclosure to the other. Coconut fiber works best as it doesn’t clump, and is easier for them to burrow into. Just because they are a burrowing species doesn’t mean they don’t need water. All frogs need water. They require a large water dish full of dechlorinated water. Dechlorinaters remove all the harmful chemicals and metals in your tap water and makes it safe for squishy critters like fish, amphibians and reptiles. Pick one up at your local pet store. Here’s a good one: https://www.amazon.com/Seachem-Prime-Fresh-Saltwater-Conditioner/dp/B0002A5WPQ/ref=asc_df_B0002A5WPQ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=167116240456&hvpos=1o2&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16562266558803356605&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032457&hvtargid=pla-310002621828&psc=1

PLEASE wash out your frogs water dish everyday, because it will also be their bathroom.

Speaking of water, Pac mans require high humidity. To create humidity in your frog buddies enclosure, simply spray it down at least once a day with dechlorinated water. Evaporated water = humidity. They like it between 50-80 percent. Get yourself a hydrometer, like a thermometer for humidity! I got a digital combo hydrometer/thermometer.

Humidity: https://pacmanfrogcare101.com/pacman-frog-humidity/

Heat is not optional. Pacmans are a tropical species. They like temperature in the mid 70′s low 80′s. If the room you’re keeping them in stays consistently in this range, then you shouldn’t need one. But if your room is like mine and is usually cold, get a heat mat. Stick it on the side above the substrate, so the Pacman can burrow to cool off if needed. Don’t put the heat mat next to the water dish, that can create mold, algae, nasty stuff. Don’t put it underneath the tank, especially not without spacers. (Elevates the tank slightly to keep it from resting on the cord) that can dry out the substrate and burn your froggy! An 8 watt mat is good for 10-20 gallons. This was the most expensive single item I got, but it’s very worth it not to freeze my frog. Pacmans also so not like mid-high 80′s. A thermometer and thermostat (to regulate the heat mat) are recommended.

The heat mat I got: https://zoomed.com/reptitherm-under-tank-heater-u-t-h/

Once again put it on the side.

I don’t recommend heat lamps because I’ve read it can dry out the frog/enclose too quickly. Pacmans don’t require much light, so a lamp is not necessary.

Pacmans are not a social species. They will eat anything else in their enclosure, including other pacmans. Don’t risk it. Even if they are the same size, one will try to eat the other and end up choking to death. Other frogs/ lizards will end up as dinner, for the love of god don’t try to set up females together.

Pacman mouths are the width of their head, they will eat anything. Hence the name Pacman frog. Their bits can and will draw blood, so feeding tongs are recommended.

(Everything I got for mine I got at joshs frogs. Highly recommended.)

Pacmans eat live food. A good staple would be crickets (what I’m doing) or Dubuia roaches. I’ve read adults will also eat pinkie mice and feeder fish, but I haven’t looked into it. A staple is what you would feed most regularly. Supplemented can be anything from hornworms to red worms to waxworms. Pretty much any feeder insect. To prevent bone deficiency, dust your bugs with calcium and vitamin supplements. “But trickster”, you say, “that seems unnecessary”. ““Petco says they’re fine without”. NO! Exotic pets, may it be reptiles, amphibians, or aquatic animals don’t get the same vitamins and nutrients in captivity that they do in the wild. It’s up to us to give them the best healthiest life possible. Also, don’t trust petco/smart. The corporate only care about the sales, not the animals. And the employees are clueless, which can mean serious damage to your pets. Do your own research. calcium: https://www.joshsfrogs.com/rep-cal-ultrafine-calcium-with-vitamin-d3.html

Vitamins:https://www.joshsfrogs.com/herptivite-multivitamin.html

Seriously, you put the feeders in a container with 1:1 with these dusts, shakey shakey and boom, dusted with all the good stuff. 2-3 times a week, more if you get a baby. It’s 12$ for the both of them shell out the cash and give your frog the best life possible.

How to dust: https://youtu.be/hlDzjmyVTWM

1/2 inch (or medium) crickets for babies. Feed them what they will eat, 3 one night, 2 the next? Great. Not hungry for a day? Fine. If your frog is refusing food for multiple days that’s a problem. But 4-5 crickets every other day (for babies) should be fine. Once again, not an expert and feeding will be the first thing I report on when I get my frog.

Full size crickets for adults, feed them 2-3 crickets every other day. I’ve read that should be good.

Hides and plants should be provided. Don’t just throw your new baby I. There with substrate and a water dish. It’s ugly, it’s boring, it’s not stimulating for the frog. Get some hides for the frog! There are so many different types, go wild. Just make sure it’s big enough for the frog or they won’t use it. Get some plastic plants while your at it. Make it a jungle! If you want get some live plants and make a Vivarium! Do more research on these however. Joshs frogs has care sheets, care videos, and a huge selection of decor, frogs, reptiles and supplies. (I swear it’s not sponsored)

https://www.joshsfrogs.com

Now to the best part: choosing your frog!

(Send me pictures !) Pacmans come in all different morphs and colors, from bright green to brown to bright red. The one pictured is an albino. I’m planning on getting an albino or red type. I’m a sucker for red frogs. They all have identical care requirements. The only thing that’ll change is the price.

Tomato frogs are a very similar frog, that require virtually the same requirements. They, however, can be housed together and their mouths are much smaller.

More sources:

https://www.joshsfrogs.com/catalog/blog/2019/01/pac-man-frog-care-sheet-includes-fantasy-frogs-c-cranwelli-and-c-ornata/

https://pacmanfroginfo.weebly.com/facts.html

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megagametophyte · 5 years ago

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What comes to mind when you’re driving past a farm and you get a whiff of something unpleasant, to say the least? You’re probably not thinking about the impact of cow farts on climate change, but instead, how much it reeks. Cow farts and burps contain a harmful gas known as methane that is a profound contributor to the progression of global warming as we know it. Who knew cow farts could have such an impact? This gas is one of the “greenhouse gases” and is responsible for a process known as the greenhouse effect. Typically, the greenhouse gas we all think about is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is produced from fossil fuels and other similar industrial processes such as cement production. Of the greenhouse gases that have the strongest effect on our planet, however, methane gas is one of the more controversial. Some support the belief that methane production is largely a natural process. After all, we can’t control cow farts and burps! Are the emissions of these harmful gases mostly caused by human activity? Perhaps the environmental fallout is the result of natural processes (such as cow farts), and humans account for only a small minority of the aftermath. Unfortunately, the science does not come to this conclusion. According to NASA, before the industrial revolution, many of the effects of global warming could be attributed to radiation from the Sun and the release of volcanic gases. In the present day, we are now seeing trends in warming that simply do not coincide with the natural activity of the planet. Historical climate data has been studied (various fossil records), and the science disagrees with the conclusion that nature is the main cause of global warming.

What is the greenhouse effect and what are the long-term consequences of having these gases in our atmosphere? The Sun’s rays penetrate through our ozone layer and heat the Earth. Some heat is reflected into space (off the water and white snow/ice), while some is absorbed into the Earth. This process is very similar to the way a greenhouse stays warm. Sun shines into the greenhouse throughout the daytime, and the glass prevents the rays from escaping which keeps the temperature consistent throughout the year. The same way it keeps plants warm, the greenhouse effect keeps organisms on Earth warm. The absorption of the Sun’s heat is essential for life; keeping it temperate for organisms to evolve. The problem arises when greenhouse gases fill the air and prevent an excess amount of rays from reflecting into space, resulting in the overall temperature of the globe to increase. Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and fluorinated gases (manmade gases containing fluorine) have the most profound effect on the environment. These gases accumulate when they are released into the atmosphere, perhaps from a cow fart, and cannot discharge into space due to Earth’s gravitational pull. Just like the glass of a greenhouse, the thicker it is (the more concentrated the gases are in the air) the more heat will be trapped. According to the Government of Canada’s 2017 national report, carbon dioxide accounts for 80% of the global greenhouse gas emissions, methane accounts for 13%, nitrous oxide accounts for 5%, and fluorinated gases account for 2%. While carbon dioxide is by far the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, the effect of methane should not be overlooked. Methane traps more heat than carbon dioxide; in fact, 25 times more heat! Let us investigate the ways in which methane is produced and what percentage of that is caused by humans.

Figure 1: Mechanism by which methane increases absorption of heat energy from the Sun.

The largest natural source of methane comes from wetlands. In this environment, microorganisms known as methanogens thrive. In wetlands, oxygen is scarce, so methanogens have adapted in such a way that they produce methane as a metabolic by-product when breaking down organic material. Another common habitat for these microorganisms is in the stomachs of a class of organisms known as ruminants which includes animals such as cows, sheep, goats, deer, etc. Methanogens even live inside human digestive tracts! These microorganisms help break down difficult-to-digest plant matter, and in doing so, a chemical reaction takes place known as fermentation. This process ultimately results in the production of methane gas which is then released from our bodies by farting and burping. Methanogens in cattle digestive tracts behave in the same way. Many consider this to be a natural cause of methane production, and it is easy to see why it might be considered as such. Cows inhabit the Earth just as any other animal, but their domestication for agriculture is where the real problem arises. The diary and beef industry are a huge source of methane pollution, outputting approximately 188 million tons of methane globally each year. According to the Global Carbon Project (an organization whose aim is to evaluate the amount of greenhouse gases being emitted and from where), agriculture and waste management is the single highest producer of methane, even in comparison to natural production. Farming produces 5% more methane than the highest natural cause of methane production.

Another source of methane production is the burning of vegetation. “Biomass burning” releases smoke contains methane that diffuses into our atmosphere because of the chemical compound’s volatile nature. Of course, humans can be attributed to a portion of this, but what about wildfires that occur naturally? While there are wildfires that occur naturally from lightning, the frequency and duration of these events have increased over time as a result of global warming.

On top of these examples of seemingly natural origins of methane emissions, there are even more human-caused sources. Rice paddies, for example, are semi-aquatic crops that produce up to 100 million tonnes of gas annually. Coal mining, landfill gases, and fossil fuel production are additional ways humans contribute to methane production. Approximately 60% of the methane we see in our atmosphere is due to human activity, leaving the remaining 40% originating from nature.

Another popular opinion among climate change skeptics is that nature can mitigate the methane being produced. To an extent, that is true. Chemical reactions occurring in the atmosphere and in the soil can process most of the methane and convert it to water and carbon dioxide. Unfortunately, more methane is being produced than can be consumed, and the by-product of the conversion reaction is also a greenhouse gas (CO2). Currently, there is research being done to mitigate these emissions more than just relying on natural “sinks”. Several different approaches to lessen the emissions in cattle agriculture include breeding and genomics, feeding strategies, and infrastructure management. Selective breeding for cows that produce more milk and less methane is an example of a genetic approach. Giving cows antibiotics, vaccines, and nitrates is said to reduce methane by 5-20%. Supplementing their diets with oils and fats reduces methane by 15-20%. Finally, adding other natural supplements to their feed such as an experimental red algae supplement called “Future Feed” claims to reduce methane by an astounding 80%.

So, while it is true that there are sources of natural methane production and natural methane “sinks”, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released an estimate of global methane emissions based on several studies in 2001. The researched focused on both natural and manmade causes for methane emissions. The results of these studies showed undeniable agreement that most of the methane has been created by humans, and nature cannot manage it all. It is so important to consider all the potential sources of greenhouse gas emissions. As inhabitants of this beautiful planet, it is in our best interest to explore ways in which we can reduce our negative impact on the climate and bring awareness to these pressing issues. Maybe next time you’re driving past that farm, you’ll consider not only the stench from cow farts, but also their unanticipated impact on climate change.

Further Reading:

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/GlobalWarming/page4.php

https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/global-greenhouse-gas-emissions-data

https://www.nrdc.org/stories/global-climate-change-what-you-need-know

https://www.eci.ox.ac.uk/research/energy/downloads/methaneuk/chapter02.pdf

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0145/8808/4272/files/A4131-01.pdf

https://www.globalcarbonproject.org/methanebudget/index.htm

https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/

https://www.csiro.au/en/Research/AF/Areas/Food-security/FutureFeed

https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-change/carbon-farming-reducing-methane-emissions-cattle-using-feed-additives

http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/news-from-agriculture-and-agri-food-canada/scientific-achievements-in-agriculture/reducing-methane-emissions-from-livestock/?id=1548267761377

https://www.gatesnotes.com/Energy/My-plan-for-fighting-climate-change

https://www.acs.org/content/acs/en/climatescience/climatesciencenarratives/what-is-the-greenhouse-effect.html

https://www.sightline.org/2019/02/12/calling-natural-gas-a-bridge-fuel-is-alarmingly-deceptive/

https://www.sightline.org/2019/02/12/methane-climate-change-co2-on-steroids/

https://www.sightline.org/2019/02/12/study-methane-life-cycle-critical-pacific-northwest/

http://www.zeroco2.no/capture/sources-of-co2/stationary-point-sources-of-co2#industrial-sources

https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/climate-change/greenhouse-gas-emissions/sources-sinks-executive-summary-2019.html

#biol4272 #climate change #global warming #methane

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marcjampole · 5 years ago

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Mainstream news media created the conditions in which a bottom-feeder like Trump could thrive by focusing on celebrity culture to encourage conspicuous consumption

AARP the Magazine is thus a small part of the giant propaganda machine that created the celebrity culture that created Donald Trump. It took from the first stirrings of consumer culture in the 1890’s until the 21st century for the focus on celebrity to pollute our marketplace of ideas enough for a toxic algae boom like Donald Trump to emerge (with apologies to algae blooms worldwide!). But unlike cleaning up the environment, saving our political discourse is conceptually easy—all the news media has to do is dedicate more of its feature coverage to those whose accomplishments can’t be measured by money made or spent, and cease to cover every issue like a reality show featuring celebrities. Not one big action, but a bunch of little actions are needed to stem the tide of celebrity culture. AARP could do its part by working into the mix a healthy share of scientists, historians, civic leaders, activists and literary figures into Big5-Oh and other parts of the magazine.

Those seeking to put the Trump phenomenon in a broader context will usually point out that his rhetoric and actions typically stay within the margins of 21st century Republican thought, especially as it concerns taxes, regulation, healthcare insurance, women’s health issues and white supremacy. Sometimes Trump has extended those margins with more outrageous versions of standard Republican fare. Others label Trumpism as the American version of the movement throughout the West to embrace ultranationalist, anti-immigration autocrats.

As insightful as these analyses are, they miss Trump’s cultural significance. Not only does Trump represent the bitterly racist and classist endgame of Ronald Reagan’s “politics of selfishness,” he also is the apotheosis of our cultural decline into celebrity-fueled consumerism. Remember that in the real world, Trump was a terrible and unethical businessperson who drove companies into bankruptcy six times; had at least a dozen failed business ventures based on his most valuable asset, his brand name; lost money for virtually all his investors; often lied to banks and governmental agencies; and has been sued by literally thousands of people for nonpayment or breach of contract.

But while Trumpty-Dumpty was engaging in a one-man business wrecking crew he managed to get his name in the newspaper for his conspicuous consumption, his attendance at celebrity parties and his various marriage and romances. His television show was a hit, which reaped him even more publicity. But make no mistake about it, before he started his run for political office by promoting the vicious, racially tinged lie that Obama hails from Kenya, the public recognized Trump primarily for the attributes he shared with the British royal family, the Kardashians, Gosselins, Robertsons, the housewives of New Jersey, Atlanta, South Beach and elsewhere, Duane Chapman, Betheny Frankel, Paris Hilton and the rest of the self-centered lot of rich and famous folk known only for being rich and famous and spending obnoxious sums of money.

Trump’s celebrity status always hinted at his master-of-the-universe skills in business and “The Apprentice” never missed an opportunity to reinforce that false myth. Thus, whereas the business world recognized Donald Trump as the ultimate loser, celebrity culture glorified him as one of the greatest business geniuses in human history. It was this public perception of Trump—completely opposite of reality—that gave him the street cred he needed to attract unsophisticated voters. Trump is completely a creation of celebrity culture.

When we consider the general intellectual, moral and cultural climate of an era—the Zeitgeist, which in German means the “spirit of the age”—we often focus on defining events such as presidential assassinations, Woodstock, the moon landing, 9/11, the election of the first non-white president. But a Zeitgeist comprises thousands upon thousands of specific events, trends and personal choices.

Which brings us—finally—to the subject of this article, AARP the Magazine, the semi-monthly slick magazine of the American Association of Retired People (AARP). The magazine usually uses celebrities and celebrity culture to give tips on personal finances, health, careers, relationships, retirement and lifestyle to its members, people over the age of 50. Because AARP membership rolls is so enormous, I have no doubt that AARP is one of the four or five most well-read periodicals in the United States.

Now AARP the organization must have many qualms about Trump and Trumpism. Trump has already rolled back consumer protections that prevent seniors from being taken advantage of by both big businesses and small-time con artists. Trump is vowing to dedicate his second term to cutting Social Security and Medicare, two programs of utmost importance to the well-being of AARP’s members. The leadership of AARP certainly understands that Trump’s cruelly aggressive effort to end immigration from non-European countries is the main cause for the growing shortages of the home care workers so vital to many if not most people in their final years. They must also realize that a tariff war affects people on fixed incomes the most.

What AARP leaders—of the organization and magazine—show no signs of understanding is that they played a role in creating the monster. The focus of AARP the Magazine and the other AARP member publication on promoting celebrity culture helped to create the playing field that Trump dominates—that shadow land of aspirations for attention and materialism in which all emotional values reduce to buying and consumption and our heroes have either done nothing to deserve their renown or have worked in the mass entertainment industries of TV, movies, sports and pop music.

As an example of how celebrity culture permeates and controls the aspirational messages of AARP the Magazine, let’s turn to the feature on the last page of every issue, something called “Big5-Oh”: Big5-Oh always has a paragraph story with photos of a famous person who is turning 50 sometime during the two months covered by the issue. The bottom third of the page consists of one-sentence vignettes with head-and-shoulder photos of famous people turning 50, 60, 70 and 80. The copy typically describes something the famous person is doing that demonstrates she or he is continuing to thrive and do great things despite advancing age.

I’ve seen Big5-Oh in every issue of AARP I have ever read, and I have perused each issue for about 18 years. And in every issue, the famous people mentioned are virtually all celebrities, by which I mean actors, pop musicians, sports stars and those known only for being known like the Kardashians and Snooki. Only quite rarely a film director, popular writer or scientist sneaks in.

The latest issue, covering August and September 2019 exemplifies the celebrity-driven approach that hammers home the idea that only celebrities matter (since it’s only their birthdays and ages that are seemed worth memorializing). The featured person turning 50 is Tyler Perry, an actor and writer-director. The smaller features include four actor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jason Alexander, Richard Gere and Lilly Tomlin, plus the athlete Magic Johnson and the rock star Bruce Springsteen.

Not one scientist, not one historian or sociologist. Not one civic leader, politician, physician, novelist, poet or classical or jazz musician. No astronaut, architect or engineer. I did a little cursory research to come up with a reconceived Big5-Oh for August and September 2019: The big feature, always about someone turning 50, could be the chess player Ben Finegold, the best-selling but much scandalized popular writer James Frey or the filmmaker Noah Baumbach. That’s pretty much a wash with Tyler Perry. If I were editor of this feature, I would probably still pick Tyler Perry over this competition.

But when we get to people who turned 60 and 70 during these months, you realize how much celebrity culture guided the editor’s choice of subjects: ignored are the designer Michael Kors, the current governor of Virginia Ralph Northam, the distinguished Spanish filmmaker Pedro Almodovar, the even more distinguished journalist James Fallows, the important literary novelists Jane Smiley, Martin Amis and Jonathan Franzen, the leader of the Irish Green Party, astronaut Scott Altman and Beverly Barnes, the first woman to captain a Boeing 747. All these people are non-celebrities and all have made more significant and lasting contributions to America than the people the column’s editor selected, with the possible exception of Magic Johnson and Bruce Springsteen.

What’s more significant, though, is including some of these people instead of all celebrities would make an important message about what we value in our society. It would say that we honor the intellectual contributions of our writers, scientists, knowledge professionals and civic leaders. The fact that AARP always selects celebrities for Big5-Oh and tends to build other stories and features around celebrities makes the opposite message about value—that all that matters is the gossip surrounding celebrities and the promotion of celebrity culture.

Now AARP shares the blame for our culture’s emphasis on shallow consumerism and superficial celebrities with many of our cultural organizations and educational institutions. For example, the political reporting of the mainstream media reduces all political discourse to celebrity terms—name-calling, who is feuding with whom, who’s winning in the polls, the skeleton-closet scandals of the candidates’ families, which celebrities love and hate them, zingers and misstatements, the candidates’ theme songs and other main themes of celebrity culture. Notice that Trump is as much a master in these endeavors as he is an inexperienced and ignorant buffoon in matters related to governance such as policy, history, the inner workings of the government and the scientific research informing governmental decisions. Note, too, that based on how much ink and space is given to endorsements by the media, in the hierarchy of value, celebrities rate above elected officials who rate above unions, business and scientific organizations and luminaries in fields other than entertainment.

#aarp #trump

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paleorecipecookbook · 6 years ago

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9 Nutrient Deficiencies Making You Crave Junk — What Your Body Really Wants Instead

We seem to always crave food that is high in sugar and fat, yet we never find ourselves craving a huge bowl of broccoli. What gives?

Craving certain foods is a multifaceted experience. There’s a cognitive component and an emotional component – aka “I am having a terrible day so I want to go home and eat my bodyweight in fro-yo.” And there’s even a physiological factor: you literally feel good after you eat certain foods.

It turns out cravings aren’t totally our fault. In fact, research suggests that many cravings are often a cry from our body, letting us know that it is seriously lacking in several key vitamins, nutrients, and minerals. These things help to regulate appetite, mood, hunger levels and cravings.

It’s not that our body desperately needs a piece of chocolate cake, we just misinterpret what our body is crying out for. Cravings, poor mood and stubborn weight issues can indicate psychological roots, specific nutrient needs, and/or vitamin deficiencies.

For every gram of sugar you consume, your body uses between 28-53 molecules of magnesium.

Certain food cravings can be triggered by specific moods. We all crave comfort foods when we are stressed out, lonely or sad. This has been linked to alterations in our gut microbiome, dysregulated cortisol levels and a low level of serotonin. (4) Research even found that highly stressed individuals report having more cravings than non-stressed individuals. (5)

The next time a craving strikes, pay attention to what the actual craving is. Do you notice that every time you have a bad day at work you rush home to eat ice cream? Do you have emotional triggers that cause you to overindulge? This self-reflection will help you control your cravings and make healthier choices on tough days.

Here are nine common nutrient deficiencies that might be at the root of your cravings:

Calcium

The Nutrient: We need calcium for more than strong bones; we need the mineral for nerve impulses, blood clotting, and for our heart to pump blood. Every cell in the body requires calcium and our body has very tight control of how much calcium is in the blood at any time. Our body will actually pull calcium from our bones when our blood levels drop or we experience pH changes in the body.

While many people think milk is a great source of calcium, it’s difficult to absorb calcium from dairy. Up to 75 percent of the population experiences lactose intolerance, meaning they lack the enzyme necessary to digest lactose. Stress, intense exercise, and too much sugar can all deplete your calcium stores.

Signs of a Deficiency: If you find yourself craving sodas, carbonated drinks and even dairy this could be a sign you need more calcium.

What To Eat:

Increase your intake of plant-based calcium sources such as 6):

Dark leafy greens

Turnip greens

Broccoli

Kale,

Celery.

Pumpkin seeds

Brazil nuts

Almonds

Asparagus

Coconut meat.

For non-plant sources, try:

Sardines

Salmon

Tuna

Magnesium

The Nutrient: Known as our relaxation mineral, magnesium contributes to nearly 700 enzyme and biochemical processes in the body. Our body has roughly 3,500 different binding sites for magnesium in our cells.

Up to 80 percent of the population is deficient in magnesium. It’s easily depleted in times of chronic stress, extreme exercise, during menstruation and when we consume sugar. In fact, for every gram of sugar you consume, your body uses between 28-53 molecules of magnesium.

Magnesium acts like a gate keeper for calcium, as it allows calcium to be excreted from our cells in response to various stressors. Calcium acts as an excitatory molecule, while magnesium acts as a calming molecule. Having imbalances in these minerals can lead to issues with our mood.

Signs of a Deficiency: If you find yourself having intense cravings for sugar and feel fatigued and sore, you may need more magnesium. This is true as well if you experience muscle twitches and cramps, depressed mood, and anxiety.

What To Eat (7, 8):

Dark chocolate (be sure it is organic with at least 70% cocoa content and no added sugar)

Avocados

Raw cacao

Cashews

Almonds

Pumpkin seeds

Sesame seeds

Dark leafy greens such as spinach, kale and broccoli.

Zinc

The Nutrient: Zinc is a part of at least 3,000 different proteins in your body and is involved in more than 200 different enzymes. In fact, zinc is involved in more enzymatic reactions in your body than any other mineral. Its highest concentrations are in your hippocampus, which deals with memory and mood.

This key mineral is important for our immune system, cellular growth, sleep, skin, insulin regulation, hormone balance and mood support. The body has no special storage capacity for zinc, so it is important to consume zinc-rich foods on a regular basis.

Zinc plays a role in modulating the brain and body’s response to stress and has been linked to depression. Under times of extreme stress, we get rid of zinc at higher rates through our urine, sweat and saliva. (9, 10)

The Signs of a Deficiency: If you suffer from GI distress, experience low moods, have extreme PMS, have high stress or take antacids and OTCs you likely could benefit from more zinc.

What To Eat:

Oysters

Shellfish

Salmon

Grass-fed meat

Pasture-raised chicken

Unsweetened dark chocolate

Pumpkin seeds

Spinach

Almonds

Omega-3

The Nutrient: Omega-3 fatty acids are known as essential fatty acids. Our bodies cannot make them on their own, so they must either be obtained through our diet or through supplements.

Signs of a Deficiency: Cravings for sweet, fatty foods, cheese and carbohydrates can be a sign of omega-3 deficiencies, as well as having poor mood and brain fog. (11)

What To Eat:

Essential fatty acids can be divided into three types: ALA, EPA and DHA, all of which can be found in:

Wild caught fish, such as tuna, salmon, and sardines.

Walnuts

Flax seeds

Hemp seeds

Chia seeds

Some algae such as spirulina.

Vitamin B12

The Nutrient: Roughly one in four Americans are deficient in Vitamin B12, a vitamin associated with memory, mood, energy and red blood cell health. Vitamin B12 is our largest vitamin and requires a good amount of stomach acid and a protein, called intrinsic factor, to break it down and absorb it. This is likely why so many people have suboptimal levels of this key vitamin.

Vitamin B12 can only be obtained from animal sources, as plant sources of B12 are in the analog form, which cannot be absorbed by the body. Methylcobalamin is the active form of B12 that the body can use, which can be found in methyl B-12 supplements or animal sources of B12. (12)

Signs of a Deficiency: If you have low energy, find yourself craving meat, suffer from anemia, or find yourself bruising easily, you likely could benefit from getting more B12 in your diet.

What To Eat:

This is a case where you want to eat what you crave. Increase your intake of:

Organic grass-fed meat

Venison

Veal

Bison

Pasture-raised chicken, turkey and eggs

Folate

The Nutrient: Also known as Vitamin B9, folate is the active form of folic acid that is necessary to support cardiovascular health, cellular health and cognitive health. With up to 40 to 60 percent of the population having the genetic variant for the MTHFR gene, consuming folate-rich foods, as opposed to synthetic folic acid, is necessary for overall health.

Methyl Folate is the biologically active form of Vitamin B9. It is also the form that is transported across membranes into peripheral tissues, particularly across the blood brain barrier. Methyl folate is used in the methylation process, which contributes to DNA health, detoxification pathways, and cell health.

Signs of a Deficiency: Natural dietary folate is found in food, while Folic acid is the synthetic form of B9 required to be added into processed grains. (13) If you crave processed grains, you may need more folate. This is also true if you have a history of cardiovascular disease, miscarriages, or experience fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, anemia and have changes in mood and irritability.

What To Eat:

Dark leafy greens such as spinach and arugula

Beets

Bell peppers

Cauliflower

Asparagus

Broccoli

Lentils

Avocados

Okra

Brussels sprouts.

Vitamin D

The Nutrient: Also known as the sunshine vitamin, Vitamin D acts as a pro-regulatory hormone in the body, influencing over 2,000 genes. When our skin is exposed to the sun, Vitamin D produces compounds that support healthy moods.

With up to 70 percent of the population being deficient in Vitamin D, it is no surprise that our mood, cravings and even our immune health can be affected by having low levels of this vital vitamin. Scientists found that people with low vitamin D symptoms are 11 times more prone to be depressed than those who had normal levels. (14)

Signs of a Deficiency: If you find yourself getting sick a lot, having poor mood, bone loss, back pain and feel tired and fatigued you likely have low vitamin D levels.

What To Eat:

Fatty fish, such as tuna, mackerel and salmon,

Beef liver

Egg yolks

Note: Getting outside and playing in the sun can be a great way to increase your Vitamin D levels, but be sure to expose roughly 70 percent of your skin as close to solar noon as possible.

Selenium

The Nutrient: Selenium is an antioxidant-rich essential trace mineral that works in conjunction with other enzymes and proteins in the body. Selenoprotein S in particular is involved in the protection against cellular stress and regulating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokine release.

Adequate selenium levels are essential for not only proper immune function, but also for regulating excessive immune response (found at the root cause of several autoimmune diseases), chronic inflammation and protecting cells against free radical damage. (15)

Signs of a Deficiency: A decline in cognitive health, thyroid functioning and immune health, as well as heart disease and infertility may be signs of a selenium deficiency. If you find yourself excessively tired, as well as craving salty foods you could benefit from increasing your selenium intake.

What To Eat:

Brazil nuts

Garlic

Tuna

Nori

Seaweed

Sunflower seeds

Turkey

Lentils

Spinach.

Antioxidants

The Nutrient: Antioxidants are categorized as either fat soluble or water soluble. However, your body needs both to protect your cells from oxidative damage and free radical damage.

Antioxidants help rid the body of dangerous oxidative products by converting them into hydrogen peroxide, then into water. This is done through a multi-step process that requires a variety of trace minerals, such as zinc, copper, manganese, and iron, which are found in foods that are rich in antioxidants.

Signs of a Deficiency: If you have low energy levels, crave sweets, seem irritable and have general low immune function you can benefit from getting more antioxidants into your diet.

What To Eat:

Organic fruits and berries

Chlorophyll-rich vegetables

Lemons and limes

Grapefruits

Tart cherries

Sulfur-rich veggies like onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, and broccoli sprouts.

CoQ10-rich foods, such as grass-fed beef, liver, sardines and mackerel.

(Read this Next: 9 Leaky Gut Symptoms and How to Start Healing Now)

The post 9 Nutrient Deficiencies Making You Crave Junk — What Your Body Really Wants Instead appeared first on PaleoPlan.

Source: https://ift.tt/10qRbxJ

#paleo #recipe #food #delicious #healthy #yum #diet

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lostcoastoutfitters · 6 years ago

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Trinity River Fly Fishing Report

Dave Neal reports on 9.6.18

We may have finally turned the corner as far as smoke and air quality in the north valley. Air conditions the last few days in and around Redding have been stellar with cleaner air and blue skies. In addition, the daytime highs have been cooler than average in the high 80’s low 90’s this past week… Morning’s and evening’s have that feel like fall is in the air!

Trout fishing on the Lower Sacramento River...

Continues to be steady to good. The river is in fine shape flowing at 9,000cfs - which is a perfect late summer flow for drift boat fishing. This current release offers lots of options for doing longer floats. I have been covering water and “going long” as one strategy to finding the fish that are spread out in the system (as opposed to anchoring on spots or backrowing a lot). Also, at 9,000cfs or higher, the river is a bit “pushy”, especially since the big 80k release dramatically changed the nature of the riverbed in many places. It’s flatter & faster along the banks now and the few eddies that used to exist (backrow spots) just don’t exist any longer, at least at these flows.

Timing is key as the mornings can be a bit slow. The late afternoon and early evening are when the caddis and other aquatic insects are most active. Knowing this river and it’s many different drifts is important when things get tight - having experience along with lots of hours on the water pays dividends. Local guides have been committed to figuring this system out, along with its constant evolution, over the years. I have spotted a few salmon moving through the system this past week.

It won’t be long before we see more of the big Kings (Fall Chinook) arriving in mass. A few jet boats downriver I spoke with this week reported limited success, a few fish here and there, including some steelhead as well. September brings much to look forward to…

Trinity River…

Is in great shape flowing at around 700cfs in JC and slightly less

upriver in DC. The moss and algae problem seems to have cleaned

up a bit, perhaps due to the higher releases made recently out of

Lewiston Lk during the Carr Fire incident? I was able to pop into the river for a quick swing in DC yesterday. It felt good to step into this magical river again and despite not having any adult steelhead destroy my Muddler Minnow (a couple halfies did) it was refreshing to at least have the opportunity for an

encounter.

There are few fish scattered throughout the river from Lewiston down to Del Loma. For those who put forth the effort and enjoy the hunt, the reward… well, you know! September can be worth it.

Here are my next available open dates: September 6,12, 25-27 this is a good time to book a trout trip on the Lower Sac or early steelhead trip on the Trinity River

#fishingreport #FRlowersac #FRTRINITY

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cool-cillian-murphy · 4 years ago

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Trehalose Market Outlook: Big Expectations to Watch For

Brief Summary of Trehalose: Trehalose is a sugar, a naturally occurring disaccharide composed of two glucose molecules joined by an alpha-alpha glycosidic bond. It occurs naturally in lesser amounts in mushrooms, honey, shrimps, lobsters, certain seaweeds (algae), wine, beer, bread and alternative foods made by using bakerâ€™s or brewerâ€™s yeast. Furthermore, as a food additive, trehalose is artificially created from corn starch with the help of many bacterial enzymes like alpha-amylase which is obtained from Bacillus licheniformis, and isoamylase from Pseudomonas amyloderamosa. Also it is heat stable and preserves the cell structure of foods after heating and freezing, so it is used as a food texturizer and stabilizer in dried foods, frozen foods, nutrition bars, fruit fillings and jams, instant noodles and rice, sugar coating, white chocolate, bakery cream, processed seafood and fruit juices.

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Ability to Sustain and Preserve Wide Array of Biological Molecules

Region Included are: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Oceania, South America, Middle East & Africa

Country Level Break-Up: United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Germany, United Kingdom (UK), the Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Turkey, Russia, France, Poland, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Australia and New Zealand etc. Enquire for customization in Report @: https://www.advancemarketanalytics.com/enquiry-before-buy/6048-global-trehalose-market-1 Strategic Points Covered in Table of Content of Global Trehalose Market:

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annieboltonworld · 4 years ago

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Juniper Publishers- Open Access Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources

Electro-Fenton Oxidation of Simulated Pharmaceutical Waste: Optimization using Central Composite Design

Authored by Hajira Tahir

Abstract

In this paper, Diclofenac sodium drug removal was studied by electro-Fenton process, and utilizing an iron electrode to engender Fe2 + ions in a batch reactor. In order to reach the maximum efficiency of the process, efficacious parameters such as: NaCl, H2O2, electrode distance and electrolysis time were investigated. The experimental data designated that all operational parameters played a paramount role in the process. High R2 (82.24%) drug removal, (84.69%) COD abstraction by Fenton like advanced oxidation process, is exhibiting the efficacy of the model. The 80% drug and 91% COD removals were observed at optimum levels of factors. The kinetic study of the drug removal was also performed.

Keywords: Central composite design; Diclofenac sodium; Electro-Fenton process; Kinetic study; Cost and Energy consumption

Highlights

a. The removal of simulated pharmaceutical waste by Electro-Fenton (EF) process.

b. The study based on Central composite design.

c. Kinetic study of drug removal.

d. Cost analysis.

Abreviations: PCPs: Personal care products ; EDCs: Endocrine disrupting compounds ; DCF : Diclofenac ; WWTPs: wastewater treatment plants

Introduction

Emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PCPs), pesticides, synthetically and naturally occurring hormones, flame retardants and some disinfection by-products, most of them considered as potential endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), usually end up into the wastewater cycle after their industrial and domestic uses. Since the conventional treatment technologies are not effective for the removal of these contaminants [1]. This is due to many of these compounds can be adsorbed in the tissues of animals and humans (especially liver and kidneys). Bolong et al. [2] reported that many EDCs can produce adverse effects in aquatic biota, indicating that the exposure is mainly by ingestion of these substances, inducing to bioaccumulation.

High concentrations of emerging contaminants have been found in birds and marine mammals. Therefore, due to the biotransformation capability of these compounds, the degradation products (modified metabolites) usually can be more harmful than the original substances [2]. Pharmaceuticals have a very significant consideration between the found substances in wastewater, and sewage treatment plants effluents. The annual production of pharmaceutical compounds has been estimated in thousands of tons worldwide. Diclofenac (DCF) (2-[(2, 6-dichlorophenylaminobenzeneaceticacid) is a common non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, which has been found in domestic wastewater and various water bodies. More than 1000 ton of DCF are manufactured and consumed in China every year.

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies such as the activated sludge process have little effect on the removal of DCF [3,4]. Previous research on DCF removal has been focused on two types of methods to decrease the toxicity of DCF [5], one is advanced oxidation, and the other is advanced reduction. -OH or other oxidants attack DCF molecules directly in the advanced oxidation methods, while hydrated electrons exchange with the chlorine atoms of DCF molecules in the advanced reduction methods. Examples of the advanced oxidation methods include Fenton or Fenton-like oxidation [6,7], ultraviolet irradiation [8,9], ozone oxidation [10,11], radiolysis [12], ultrasonic treatment, and ultrasonic irradiation assisted advanced oxidation [13-15].

Diclofenac (DCF) is an acidic pharmaceutical which belong to the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) family. This drug is widely used in the relief of pain and inflammation, the prevention of intra-operative meiosis during cataract extraction, the treatment of inflammation after surgery and laser eye treatment, and the relief of ocular signs and allergic conjunctivitis. Therefore, DCF is one of the top 10 compounds most commonly found in aquatic environments, due to its high level of consumption and that its removal percentage in conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be even less than 20%. It has been detected in rivers, WWTP effluents, estuaries, surface water, ground water and even drinking water in many countries at 1g-ng L-1 concentration levels [16].

A recent survey en European river waters revealed that carbamazepine, diclofenac, caffeine and ibuprofen were detected in 95%, 83%, 62% and 35% of collected samples respectively [17]. It has been found in livers, kidneys and gills of fishes and correlated to physiological alterations in animals even at concentrations of 1g L-1. It is one of the few drugs, together with the hormone17a-ethinylestradiol, that can be considered to present toxic effects on bacteria, invertebrates and algae [18,19]. Among the various organic pollutants that are considered to cause environmental hazard; phenolic compounds occupy a prominent position. Many of the widely used drugs, pesticides contain a phenolic part. As a model compound we have chosen Aspirin and Diclofenac sodium.

These heat and light resistant, biological non-degradable [20]. Stable drugs effluents are treated by several physical, chemical, and biophysical processes. Among which adsorption, precipitation, coagulation-occultation, oxidation-coronation, biological and advanced oxidation processes are widely used for the degradation of waste water containing drugs materials. Precipitation method is not very advantageous because it results the sludge formation while in adsorption adsorbent needs to be regularly regenerated. Biological methods are not effective for the complicated aromatic compounds [21] Among Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) technologies like ozonation [22], UV/H2O2 , [23] or Photocatalytic oxidation [24] , the electro- Fenton process has a high potential to ensure the mineralization (conversion into CO2 and H2O) of organic pollutants and micro pollutants. In the process, powerful oxidant hydroxyl radicals (•OH) are produced in an electrochemically assisted Fenton's reaction involving hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ferrous ion, according to the following reaction: [25].

Fe+2 + H2O2 →Fe+3 + •OH + OH- (1)

Since this reaction takes place in acidic medium, it can alternatively be written as:

Fe+2 + H2O2 + H+ → •OH + OH-+ H2O (2)

H2O2 is formed via the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode:

O2 + 2H+ + 2e- → H2O2 (3)

Ferrous ions are consumed more rapidly than they are produced. In addition, ferrous ions can be rapidly destroyed by hydroxyl radicals with the rate constant in the range of 3.2- 4.3×108M-1.s-1 [26].

Fe+2 + •OH →Fe+3 + OH- (4)

The hydroxyl radicals, which have high oxidizing potential degrade organic compounds (RH) into radicals (R•).After radical formation step and then are finally mineralized into harmless gases and ions etc [27].

Organic radical(R•) radicals can also be formed due to gain of hydrogen atom from aromatic ring by 'OH [28]. The degradation pathway of organic molecule by the hydroxyl (•OH) radicals as follows [29]:

OH• +RH →H2O + R• (5)

R• + H2O2 →ROH + OH• (6)

R• + O →ROO• (7)

ROO• + RH →ROOH + R• (8)

RSM is a statistical implement avail to study the individual and interactive effects of variables on replication. Central Composite Design was employed to evaluate the effect of consequential operational parameters NaCl, H2O2, electrode distance and electrolysis time on drug, COD abstraction efficiencies. In this design five levels of factors was studied to check the paramount of operational parameters on response like % drug and COD removals. So study at five levels provides a detail data about the factors influence on replications. The simulated drug system was studied [30].

The main purposes of this research were as follow:

I To investigate the removal of DCF in aqueous solution by electro fenton reaction,

II. The optimum operational parameters for the removal of drug was found by central composite design

Experimental Details

Reagents

The active of Diclofenac sodium was purchased from Sandy Zhang Daily Hi Industry (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. Analytical grade Hydrogen peroxide (30%, d = 1.11 g/mL), sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide were of laboratory reagent grade (Merck Co.) , and used without further purification. The structure of drug and characteristics are given in (Table 1).

General procedure

Wastewater was prepared synthetically by dissolving drug in distilled water. The structure of drug is shown in (Table 1). All the other chemicals were used of analytical grade. For UV- visible absorbance measurements, a T80 UV/VIS Spectrometer was used. As a power supply, a digital DC power supply (Yaxun 1502DD; 15V, 2A) was used to perform Electro-Fenton (EF) experiments. A 78HW-1 serial constant-temperature magnetic pug mill stirrer is used to perform agitation of the solution during EF experiments. As EF reactor, 500 mL beaker was used. Iron anode and iron cathode were used to perform EF tests.

COD Determination

Samples were centrifuged and filtered to remove MnO2. MnO2 is used to decompose residual H2O2 .COD was measured by the closed reflux colorimetric method in accordance with Standard Methods (1995). The detection of color value was done according to Method 2120C in Standard Methods (1995) [18].

Experimental Design

Experimental Design, Data analysis and Process Optimization

RSM is a statistical approach for the optimization of operational parameter both at laboratory and industrial scale [24] . This is very helpful tool to study the effect and optimization of number of factors at a time on single response surface sheet [25] . RSM employs a low-order polynomial equation for choosing significance and optimization of parameters [31]. RSM provides the smallest number of experiments than conventional approach [32]. In the present study, Central Composite Design (CCD), this is a wide used sort of RSM. It has been worked for the improvement of photo like treatment of textile effluent. It is a perfect design tool for successive experimentation, and permits testing the lack of fit when an adequate range of experimental values are accessible [26]. A total of 31 experiments were employed in this work, including 24 = 16 cube points, 7 replications at the center point, and 8 axial points. Experimental data were analyzed using Minitab 17 software.

Results and Discussion

The response surface is customarily portrayed graphically, where the contour plots are typically drawn to visualize the shape of the response surface [8]. The first step in RSM is to provide an opportune data of replication due to operational parameters either by the first order model or the second order model [10].

Where Y is the predicted response used as a dependent variable. The XiXj show the independent variables. While β0 is the constant coefficient, and βi ,β ij and β ii are the coefficients of linear, interaction and quadratic term, respectively.

The following second-order polynomial equation is obtained for % color and COD removal potency as follows:

%ColorRemoval=-832+ 118.1 A+ 67.4B + 27.0C + 11.51 D -11.28A ×A- 5.26 B×B-.031 C×C-0.0261D ×D+ 5.00A ×B- 1.74 A×C- 0.789 A×D+ 0.69 B×C -0.353B ×E- 0.278C ×D (10)

%CODremoval=-1230+175.6 A+ 165.7 B+ 36.1C + 6.82 D-16.56 A×A -9.80 B×B-0.975 C×C-0.0767 DxD- 1.87 A×B- 2.81 A×C + 0.356 A×D-1.33 B×C+ 0.000 B×D-0.074 C×D (11)

Determination Coefficients and Residuals Analysis

The regression coefficient R2 helps to find the relation between observed and predicted response of the process. The R2 of 0.7854 is showing a close relation with predicted response. It is indicated that the 78.54% variations in response is due to the effect of operational parameters. Adjusted R2 is withal a quantification of goodness of a fit, but it's more felicitous for comparing models with different numbers of independent variables. It rectifies R2-value for the sample size and the number of terms in the model by utilizing the degrees of freedom on its computations. If there are many terms in a model, and not profoundly and immensely colossal sample size, adjusted R2 may be visibly more diminutive than R2 [33-34]. Here, adjusted R2 value (0.5975) is very proximate to the observed R2 value.[Table 2,3]

Residual plots help to check the adequacy of the models. Residuals are the differences between observed and predicted responses. Normal probability plots show the normality of the residuals. The observed residuals are premeditated against the expected values, given by a normal distribution (Figures 2a & 3a). The residuals from the analysis should be normally distributed. If number of observation are large than minimum deviation in normality plot it does not matter. The normal probability plot of the residuals should follow a line. Trend observed in Figures 2a & 3a, reveal data is overlapping the true line. Figures Figures 2b & 3bshow the residuals versus the fitted values. Data is scattering around zero line. Figures 3c & 4c illustrate the residuals in the order of the next observations, and also the histogram of the residuals distribution. It shows that the residuals in the plot fluctuate during a random pattern round the line of error zero.

Analysis of Variance

It is an integral part of data analysis to check the model adequacy [35]. Tables 4-6 given below shows the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) results of the established model for % drugs and COD removals. The mean squares were obtained by dividing the sum of squares of each of the two sources of variation, the model and the error (residual) variance, by the respective degrees of freedom (DF). The model F-value was calculated by dividing the model mean sq. by residual mean square. Values of Prob > F less than 0.0500 imply that the model is significant, whereas the values greater than 0.1000 are sometimes thought- about as insignificant. Prob > 0.004 value is denoting that the polynomial model is fit for drugs removal, respectively.

On the other hand, the high Prob > F value (0.813) obtained for % COD removal reveal that the model is insignificant ; this is because of fact that color removal is just due to degradation of ago linkage and chromophore groups while for COD removal complete mineralization of dye is required. So same % drug and COD removal data was not obtained. The highest R2 obtained for drugs removal efficiency denotes that 78.54% of the total variation may be depicted by the established model expressing a satisfactory quadratic fit. However, in terms of COD removal, only around 35.16% of the total variation can be explained by the model (R2 = 0.6063). Considering the above explained multivariate analysis check results, the model application explained the reaction quite well, and can be used to navigate the design space at least in terms of drug and COD removal efficiencies.

Pareto Chart Analysis

The Pareto Chart of standardized effects at P=0.05 is shown in Figure 4 The standardized effects are used to evaluate the effect of each factor and their interactions, and any value higher than absolute value is considered significant. Figure 4a shows that [H2O2] (quadratic) and electrode distance linearily, NaCl (quadratic), electrolysis time (linear) are significant. Figure 4b is the Pareto chart for % COD removal potency. [H2O2] (Quadratic), electrode distance linearily and NaCl (quadratic), are the most significant factor for % COD removal potency, which is agreed from Pareto chart.

Main Interaction Plots

The simplest graphical tools (Main Effects Plot) are to see, whether, the analysis pattern is statistically vital or not. In this plot, the response mean is plotted against levels of operational parameters. There is no main effect: When factors level response overlap x -axis (response mean). In the following plot Figure 5a & 5b is showing that factors levels significantly moving the target mean value.

Full Interaction Plots

These are the plot between variables at a time and corresponding response is premeditated .This plot shows response means for the levels of one factor on the x-axis and a separate line for each level of another factor. If Parallel lines are observed means, there is no variation in target response due to amendment in factors levels. If response slope is higher, means additional robust interaction is present among levels of factors for the target response. These plots are reciprocal to anova test. Interaction plots are very useful if significant interaction is present among factors for the response value. The lines are not parallel in Figure 6a & 6b for % drugs removal and % COD removal potency.

Variables Effect on Drugs Removal

Representation of Variables Effect as Response Surface and Counter Plots

The effects of operational parameters on responses are shown by plotting the three dimensional (3D) and contour (2D) plots for the predicted responses. The plots are plotted by obtained data from polynomial model. The surface and contour plots of the quadratic model between two variables are drawn, and other factors are kept at center levels. The plots are shown in Figures 7 & 8. Response surface plots provide a methodology to predict the % removal for various values of the tested variables and therefore the contours of the plots facilitate in identification of the sort of interactions between these variables [17]. It is very simple to study the effects of factors on responses by surface plot as following.

Effect of Operational Parameters on %Drugs and COD Removal Potency

Effect of NaCl

It is reported that , the NaCl increases the EC efficiency because of the enhancement of the solution conductivity, providing a greater level of contaminants extraction , while the applied voltage cell is reduced, saving electric energy [34]. Even during the EC, the conductivity increased (mainly promoted by hydroxide ions electro-generated at the cathode, which is convenient for the process. It was observed that when NaCl amount was varied 3 to 6 g at [H2O2] 7.5 mL/L, Electrode distance 7.5 cm and electrolysis time 45 min a 41 % drug removal was enhanced , and also 35% increment in % COD removal potency. NaCl amount has significantly affected the response which is agreed from Pareto chart too.

Effect of Initial H2O2 Concentrations

The initial concentration of H2O2 plays an important role in the EF process. The increase in the removal efficiency was due to the increase in hydroxyl radical concentration as a result of the addition of H2O2. However, at a high dosage of H2O2, the decrease in removal efficiency was due to the hydroxyl radical scavenging effect of H2O2 and the recombination of the hydroxyl radical [31].

H2O2 + •OH •OOH + H2O (12)

•OOH + •OH H2O + O2 (13)

•OH +•OH H2O2 (14)

This can be explained by the impact of the additional produced OH• radicals that oxidize the drugs molecule , inflicting the maximum color removal [11]. The H2O2 concentration significantly poignant the drugs removal which is an agreement from Pareto chart too. When H2O2 concentration was inflated 5 to 10 mL/L , the concerns decolonization and % COD removal potency reduced up to 48 % and 34% at reaction time= 45 min , NaCl = 4.5g , electrode distance=7.5 cm. Selecting the applicable concentration of H2O2 is commercially affordable [36]. In addition, excess H2O2 dosages lead to the formation of less powerful •OH2 radicals.

It is important to optimize the amount of H2O2 in the Fenton method because the main cost of the method is the cost of H2O2, and excessive dose of H2O2 trigger adverse effects. The COD removal can be attributed to the fact that the system suffered both reactions simultaneously, electro coagulation and also Fenton process. The unutilized oxidant presented as excess amount of H2O2 also contributes to COD [37]. Thus, it becomes imperative to optimize the reagent ratio both for economical and environmental factors.

Effect of Electrode Distance

The 20% drugs removal was decreased when electrode distance was changed from 3 to 7.5 cm and % COD removal was remained unaffected at NaCl 4.5 g , [H2O2] 7.5 mL/L and electrolysis time 45 min. The Pareto chart analysis is showing that electrode distance has a significant impact on the responses. If the electrode spacing is too large, ohmic drop will occur through the electrolyte, which will lead to the reduction of cell voltage and power utilization [38,39] (Tables 7 & 8). On the other hand, at longer distance the mass transfer of ferric ion to the surface of cathode, which controls the regeneration ferrous ion, will get restrained [40]. The minimum distances between the electrodes should be chosen for low energy expenditures [41], but at very short electrode spacing, chances of short circuiting are very high. Therefore, an electrode spacing of 3 cm has been selected as the optimum for further experiments.

Effect of Electrolysis Time

The efficiency of contaminant reduction depends on Fe (III) production by the anode [35], so that high electrolysis duration would cause higher production of these iron hydroxides, which are in turn responsible for the coagulation process [33]. Reactive time influences the treatment efficiency of the electrochemical process [42]. Electrolysis time determines the production rate of Fe2+ or Fe3+ ions from iron electrodes. Moreover, COD removal may also involve electrochemical oxidation and adsorption by electrostatic attraction and physical entrapment.

Ferrous ion is the catalyst in the Fenton process. Its main purpose is the catalysis of hydrogen peroxide, resulting in hydroxyl radical formation. This is due to the fact that, Fe2+ plays a very important role in initiating the decomposition of H2O2 to generate the -OH in the Fenton process. When the concentrations of Fe2+ and -OH are high, Fe2+ can react with the -OH according to Equation (15).

Fe+2 + H2O2 Fe+3 + •OH +(15)

Hence, the excess ferrous ions consumed the OH- hydroxyl radicals with a high oxidative potential. It caused the ferric reduction efficiency to be lower than in Equation (8). However, it is not a good idea to use over high concentration of Fe2+. A large quantity of ferric oxide sludge will be generated, which needs further separation and disposal. An increase in the concentration of ferrous ion resulted in the increase in % drugs and COD removal potency. The color removal will increase as time increases particularly for lower initial dye concentrations. The reason is that at the initial irradiation stage of the process, hydroxyl radicals attack to the drugs molecules those results in increase of % drugs removal. The reactions of •OH and •O2H with drugs molecule result in the formation of intermediates. These intermediates in solution result in decrease in concentration of •OH that cause a decrease in %color removal. In addition, when reaction time was modified from 30 to 45 min at NaCl 4.5 g, [H2O2] 7.5 mL/L , electrode distance 7.5cm no change in % drugs and COD removal were observed .In oxidation processes, azo groups rapidly decompose and the solution becomes colorless. Naturally, longer time is required for the removal of aromatic rings. Therefore, COD removal is done in longer time compared with decolorization [43].

Kinetic Study

The second order kinetics model was utilized which are represented as follows Equation (16):

Electric Energy Consumption

Fixed cost of plant and operating cost contribute for total cost of an operation. Generally, operating cost analysis includes material and electrical energy costs as well as labor, maintenance, sludge dewatering, transportation and disposal costs. These cost items and fixed cost are independent of the type of the electrode material. Thus, the operating cost based on electrode material was calculated using the following equation.

It is clear that a technically efficient process must also be feasible economically. The major operating cost of EC is associated with electrical energy consumption during process. Electrical energy consumption was calculated using the Equation (17):

E = U I tEC (17)

Where E is the electrical energy in KWh, U the cell voltage in volt (V), I the current in ampere (A) and tEC is the time of EC process in hours [44-46]. The energy consumption at optimum values is 0.0198 KWh/dm3.

Occurrences

Due to their wide use, pharmaceuticals are expected to be present in WWTPs (Waste water treatment plants) where sewage systems are established. However, some of drugs are not effectively removed by the WWTPs and subsequently find their way to water bodies. Diclofenac, as discussed above, is example of drug that are poorly removed by WWTPs. It has been detected in WWTP effluents, surface waters, and ground water and occasionally in drinking water, with cascading concentrations due to dilution and some elimination processes like soil retention and photo transformation. They have been detected in Europe, America and Asia. The average detected values in WWTP effluents and in surface waters in some countries have been summarized in Figures 9a & 9b. All concentration data was collected from available publications. The majority of surface water data in the figure is from rivers with a few from lakes and estuaries; however, the occurrence of both drugs in groundwater and drinking water is inadequate in the literature and is therefore not presented in this figure. The concentrations of diclofenac is significantly different among countries as shown in Figures 9a & 9b . One explanation for this difference is the diverse consumption rates of both pharmaceuticals in those countries. Another explanation is that the higher concentrations in some countries might not be found yet due to the insufficient investigations conducted so far.

Ecotoxicology

Diclofenac are widely present in water bodies. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate their impact on the ecosystems where they are present. Many studies have assessed their ecotoxicology (Table 9). Ferrari et al. [47], studied the toxic effects of diclofenac on bacteria, algae, micro crustaceans, and fish. They observed that both substances had a relatively limited acute ecotoxicity on the tested organisms. In the worst cases of acute toxicity tests, concentrations that cause 50% of effect (EC50) were 13800 ug L-1 for 11454 ug L-1 for diclofenac on the Microtox _ system over 30 min [48-62]. However, chronic tests displayed higher toxicity than acute tests. In the chronic toxicity tests, the worst cases of no observed effect concentrations (NOEC) were 25 ug L-1 for carbamazepine and 246 ug L-1 for diclofenac on B. calyciflorus over 48 h. Later, Cleuvers [63,64] demonstrated the synergistic toxicity of diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetylsalicylic acid. The mixture toxicity of those substances at the EC50 and EC80 doses was as high as or even higher than that predicted by concentration addition. Dietrich and Prietz [63] investigated the lethality and teratogenicity of diclofenac on zebra fish embryos after a 96 h exposure and reported that the lethal concentration of diclofenac is 480 ± 50 lg L_1 (LC50/96 h) and the effect concentration is 90 ± 20 ug L-1 (EC50/96 h). In chronic toxicity tests of Daphnia.

Magna reproduction, the NOEC of diclofenac was reported to be 1mg L-1 and the LOEC (lowest observed effect concentration) to be 0.2 mg L-1 Schwaiger et al. [66]. In order to evaluate sub lethal toxic effects of diclofenac on fish, Schwaiger & Triebskorn et al. [65,66] studied rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to diclofenac in doses ranging from 1 ug L-1 to 500 ug L-1 over a period of 28 days. Histopathological examinations of exposed fish revealed alterations in the kidney and gills. The lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC) causing renal lesions and alterations of the gills was found to be 5 ug L-1 Schwaiger et al. [65]. Schwaiger et al. [66] also observed the bioaccumulation of diclofenac in fish. The highest concentrations of diclofenac were detected in the liver, followed by the kidney and then the gills. Its bioconcentration factors (BCF) were calculated as 12-2732 in the liver, 5-971 in the kidney, 3-763 in the gills, and 0.3-69 in the muscle.

Triebskorn et al. [66] found that the cytological alterations in liver, kidney and gills occurred even at diclofenac concentration of 1 ug L-1. Comparing those results with the detected concentrations in (Figure 4) diclofenac definitely poses a risk on the ecosystems where it is present. Pharmaceutical residues may be transported through food chains and severely harm other species. Studies have related the decline of the population of vultures in the India subcontinent to their exposure to diclofenac residues Green et al. [67]. Vultures used to be a common raptor in the region; however, the raptor's population has declined significantly since the 1990s. These studies found that diclofenac residues in treated livestock bodies that were scavenged by the vultures caused the renal failure and death of the vultures. Based on knowledge obtained so far, it seems that the acute ecotoxicity of both drugs is rather unlikely, but that the chronic effects are still not clear. Long term studies are needed for the better characterization of chronic ecological effects. The synergistic toxicity of these drugs with other compounds also needs more studies. Furthermore, information on the ecological effects of their metabolites and intermediates is also needed.

Metabolism

After administration, some prescribed drugs aren't utterly metabolized. The un metabolized parent medication and a few metabolites area unit later excreted from the body via urine and faces. In places with sewage systems, these pharmaceutical residues enter the WWTP Siva waste. Diclofenac isa nonsteroidal antiinflammatory (NSAID) accustomed reduces inflammation and to alleviate pain working as an analgesic in conditions like in inflammatory disease or acute injury. It also can be used to reduce menstrual pain, dysmenorrhea. Once oral administration, diclofenac is eliminated during a short period (elimination 0.5 life concerning a pair of h [60]. Approximately 65% of the dosage is excreted through urine in which six metabolites have been identified. However, the actual amount of metabolites in the faeces is still not clear. The mass balance of diclofenac metabolism is shown in (Figure 10).

At least two of the metabolites in urine are discharged at higher rates than unchanged diclofenac. However, diclofenac is also available in other forms for dermal applications, eye dropping and injection. In principle, those different forms of the drug should produce same metabolites, but in different proportion [61]. Oral application is the main form of administration and accounted for about 70% of the worldwide diclofenac sales in 2007 (IMS Health). The dermal application of diclofenac, which is popular in developed countries, may reduce the bioavailability of the drug to roughly 50% by circumventing the biotransformation in the liver: a process called the first pass effect or presystemic metabolism. Therefore, the dermal application of diclofenac could result in greater diclofenac discharges into the aquatic environments [62-69]. Many investigations detected diclofenac in water bodies. Nevertheless, no studies have been conducted on the behavior of diclofenac metabolites in water circles (Figure 11).

Conclusion

The study was successfully carried out for the % drug and COD removal of simulated pharmaceutical effluent. The effects of the process-specific variables were investigated, using a 5-level central composite design (CCD) , and response surface methodology (RSM) employed for process optimization. Quadratic regression models were developed that showed a satisfactory fit between the predicted and experimental values for both drug and COD percent reduction. The conclusion from this study has been drawn that CCD can be effectively optimized the process variables for the treatment of effluent at laboratory and industrial scale. Effect of experimental parameters on the drug removal efficiency was established by the response surface and contour plots of the model-predicted responses. The residuals follow a normal distribution. The electrical energy consumption for EF process was calculated .The low consumption of the Fenton's reagents implies that the process is cost efficient with low generation of residues. According to the results obtained, it can be concluded that the EF process using iron electrodes for drug degradation and remediation of wastewater, can be a promising process in terms of environmental and economical features. The results suggested that EF process is an economically viable and feasible process for future applications. Further studies on pharmaceutical waste is continued by using different heterogeneous photo catalyst.

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sciencebulletin · 5 years ago

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An India-Pakistan nuclear war could kill millions, threaten global starvation

A nuclear war between India and Pakistan could, over the span of less than a week, kill 50-125 million people—more than the death toll during all six years of World War II, according to new research. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder and Rutgers University examines how such a hypothetical future conflict would have consequences that could ripple across the globe. Today, India and Pakistan each have about 150 nuclear warheads at their disposal, and that number is expected to climb to more than 200 by 2025. The picture is grim. That level of warfare wouldn't just kill millions of people locally, said CU Boulder's Brian Toon, who led the research published today in the journal Science Advances. It might also plunge the entire planet into a severe cold spell, possibly with temperatures not seen since the last Ice Age. His team's findings come as tensions are again simmering between India and Pakistan. In August, India made a change to its constitution that stripped rights from people living in the long-contested region of Kashmir. Soon after, the nation sent troops to Kashmir, moves that Pakistan criticized sharply. "An India-Pakistan war could double the normal death rate in the world," said Toon, a professor in the Laboratory of Atmospheric and Space Physics. "This is a war that would have no precedent in human experience." It's a subject that Toon, also of the Department of Atmospheric and Ocean Sciences, has had on his mind for decades He came of age during the height of the Cold War when schoolchildren still practiced ducking-and-covering under their desks. As a young atmospheric scientist in the early 1980s, he was part of a group of researchers who first coined the term "nuclear winter"—a period of extreme cold that would likely follow a large-scale nuclear barrage between the U.S. and Russia. Toon believes that such weapons are still very much a threat—one that's underscored by current hostilities between India and Pakistan. "They're rapidly building up their arsenals," Toon said. "They have huge populations, so lots of people are threatened by these arsenals, and then there's the unresolved conflict over Kashmir." In his latest study, Toon and his colleagues wanted to find out just how bad such a conflict could get. To do that, the team drew on a wide range of evidence, from computer simulations of Earth's atmosphere to accounts of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan in 1945. Based on their analysis, the devastation would come in several stages. In the first week of the conflict, the group reports that India and Pakistan combined could successfully detonate about 250 nuclear warheads over each other's cities. There's no way to know how powerful these weapons would be—neither nation has conducted nuclear tests in decades—but the researchers estimated that each one could kill as many as 700,000 people. Most of those people wouldn't die from the blasts themselves, however, but from the out-of-control fires that would follow. "If you look at Hiroshima after the bomb fell, you can see a huge field of rubble about a mile wide," Toon said. "It wasn't the result of the bomb. It was the result of the fire." For the rest of the globe, the fires would just be the beginning. The researchers calculated that an India-Pakistan war could inject as much as 80 billion pounds of thick, black smoke into Earth's atmosphere. That smoke would block sunlight from reaching the ground, driving temperatures around the world down by an average of between 3.5-9 degrees Fahrenheit for several years. Worldwide food shortages would likely come soon after. "Our experiment, conducted with a state-of-the-art Earth system model, reveals large-scale reductions in the productivity of plants on land and of algae in the ocean, with dangerous consequences for organisms higher on the food chain, including humans," said study coauthor Nicole Lovenduski, an associate professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences and a fellow of the Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research (INSTAAR). Toon recognizes that the scope of such a war may be hard for people to wrap their heads around. But he hopes that the study will show people around the world that the end of the Cold War didn't eliminate the risk of global nuclear war. "Hopefully, Pakistan and India will take note of this paper," he said. "But mostly, I'm concerned that Americans aren't informed about the consequences of nuclear war." Provided by: University of Colorado at Boulder More information: O.B. Toon el al. Rapidly Expanding Nuclear Arsenals in Pakistan and India Portend Regional and Global Catastrophe. Science Advances (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aay547 Image: Global biological productivity is lowered significantly by nuclear war between India and Pakistan. Credit: Cheryl S. Harrison, Lili Xi and Nicole Lovenduski Read the full article

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juniperpublisherscellscienc-blog · 5 years ago

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New Vision of New Sources- Juniper Publishers

Fresh, clean food is important to good nutrition. Preventing food from becoming contaminated with food poisoning bacteria reduces losses and illnesses. Bacteria in food can reduce the food's nutrient value and also cause disease. Bacteria that cause disease are called pathogenic bacteria. Bacteria can cause diseases in humans, in other animals, and also in plants. Some bacteria can only make one particular host ill; others cause trouble in a number of hosts, depending on the host specificity of the bacteria. The diseases caused by bacteria include food poisoning, tooth ache anthrax, even certain forms of cancer. Disease causing (or pathogenic) bacteria can contaminate food and water and cause food poisoning in the form of diseases such as typhoid, cholera and hepatitis. Pathogenic bacteria are sometimes represented as (deadly) dangerous enemies that lurk in the dark, unseen, ready to attack. Some bacteria kill a high percentage of people infected. Bacteria have invented many different strategies to make us ill. These strategies are called bacterial pathogenicity.

Microbial contaminated food is a problem, fast foods and restaurants are not committed to food storage and workers' health. A report from the Saudi Food and Drug Authority indicates that there are approximately 5,000 cases of food poisoning per year in Saudi Arabia [1]. The symptoms of food poisoning commonly include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhoea and fever, although not all of them may occur in every case. Symptoms vary depending upon the cause and usually start between one and 36 hours after eating the contaminated food and may last for several days. Food poisoning may be fatal, depending upon the cause and the overall fitness of the sick person. Some bacteria, for example most salmonella bacteria, can increase in numbers in food very rapidly under some circumstances. Contamination of foods is a common cause of outbreaks of food poisoning. Food that is contaminated with large numbers of bacteria can be a source of contamination of other foods. Contamination of foods can happen when food contaminated by hands, flies or other insects or pests touches a clean food or when clean foods touch a contaminated surface or utensil.

Raw foods including meat, poultry, fish and shellfish, eggs, unpasteurized milk and dairy products, and fresh produce often contain bacteria that cause food borne illnesses. Foods may also be contaminated with bacteria during food preparation in a restaurant or home kitchen. If food preparers do not thoroughly wash their hands, kitchen utensils, cutting boards, and other kitchen surfaces that come into contact with raw foods, cross contamination and the spread of bacteria from contaminated food to uncontaminated food may occur. Many types of bacteria cause food borne illnesses [2]. Examples include: Salmonella (a bacterium present on egg shells and inside eggs), Campylobacter jejuni (found in raw or undercooked chicken and unpasteurized milk), Shigella (a bacterium spread from person to person), Escherichia coli (present in raw or undercooked hamburger, unpasteurized fruit juices and milk, and fresh produce), Listeria monocytogenes (found in raw and undercooked meats, unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses, and ready-to-eat deli meats and hot dogs), Vibrio (a bacterium that may contaminate fish or shellfish), Clostridium botulinum (contaminate improperly canned foods and smoked and salted fish).

Each year, an estimated 48 million people in the United States experience a food borne illness. Food borne illnesses cause about 3,000 deaths in the United States annually [3]. Botulism, microbial food poisoning due to Clostridium botulinum, is one of the more well-known food borne diseases due to the severe nature of the illness. As C. botulinum grows in food it produces a neurotoxin, which causes symptoms approximately 12-36 hours after consumption. In the past botulism was mainly associated with canned foods, but it has recently also been associated with vegetables in oil and some other foods. Staphylococcus aureus also known as 'Golden staph' is important from both a medical and food perspective. About half of us carry this organism on our skin and in nasal passages. Infected cuts or sores can contain large numbers of S. aureus, and such wounds should be kept well covered if a person is handling foods. Animals, including poultry, also carry this bacteria on their bodies, and all raw meat and poultry products should be handled as though they are contaminated. Raw milk can also be a source of this bacteria [4]. Certain gut microflora such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Klebsiella sp., Streptococcus sp., Salmonella spp., and Shigella sp. can cause food poisoning if the food is contaminated with these bacteria. Environmental contamination potentially leads to human or animal illness, and one direct route of contamination is from manure used as an agriculture fertilizer. The concentration of resistant E. coli in feces varies enormously between individuals [5-8].

As a consequence there is much that still needs to be understood about the behavior and pathogenicity of these highly important bacteria. In particular, and from a food industry/ food safety perspective, it is important to better understand the behavior of bacteria, and how to control it. Harmful gut microbiome is devoiced manure. If contaminated produce is not processed, it may contain some of the gut microorganisms when it reaches the supermarket. Manure can cause contamination in food even when not used as fertilizer. In addition, raw milk can be contaminated during the milking process. Contamination of food can also come through water, spraying contaminated water on plants to irrigate, wash, or chill them can contaminate foods, especially leafy green vegetables, are grown in water that has been contaminated by manure, bacteria can adhere to their surfaces and become extremely difficult to wash off. In some cases, they can find their way inside the vegetables' cells where washing will have no effect. Water is not only a problem on the farm; it is used in food processing, or even to wash food at the supermarket.

Patients who have bacterial infected are usually with antibiotics, and the continuing use of antibiotics produces bacteria that can resist the antibiotics. Decreased efficiency and resistance of pathogen to antibiotics has necessitated the development of new alternatives. Moreover, the cost of the drugs is high and also they cause adverse effect on the host, which include hypersensitivity and depletion of beneficial microbes in the gut. There are several sources in nature of compounds that can inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth, and these may provide new antibiotic medicines.

Nowadays there is an increasing demand for biodiversity in the screening programs for selecting therapeutic drugs from natural products, the marine organisms; especially seaweeds are of with immense interest, since they are having a broad range of biological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumorals, anti-inflammatory and antioxidants. Seaweeds have been recognized as potential sources of antibiotic substances. The production of antimicrobial activities was considered to be an indicator of the seaweeds to synthesize bioactive secondary metabolites [8-10].

Marine algae represent an inexhaustible reservoir of raw materials used in pharmaceutical, medicine, food industries and cosmetics [11]. Marine algae serve as an important source of bioactive natural substances [12,13]. Special attention has been reported on antibacterial activities related to marine seaweeds against several pathogens [14]. The antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts from 20 species of macroalgae including Chlorophyta, Phaeophyta and Rhodophyta was evaluated against E. coli, S. aureus and E. faecalis [15]. Study results indicated that seaweeds have presented a significant capacity of antibacterial activities, which makes them interesting for screening for natural products. The extracts and active constituents of various marine seaweeds have been shown to have antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria [16,17]. The antimicrobial compounds derived from the marine seaweeds consist of a diverse group of chemical compounds [18]. Many substances obtained from marine algae such as alginate, carrageenan and agar as phycocolliods have been used for decades in medicine and pharmacy [19]. Chemical structure types include sterols [20], isoprenoide, amino acids, terpenoids, phlorotannins, steroids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids and acrylic acid can be counted [21]. Numerous substances were identified as antimicrobial agents from algae such as Chlorellin derivatives, acrylic acid, halogenated aliphatic compounds, terpenes, sulphur containing heterocylic compounds, phenolic inhibitors etc.

Medical plants are widely used in the treatment of various diseases in today's world. Plant extracts and their various formulations in the treatment and/or alleviation of several diseases in folk medicine have been dated back to the ancient times. Besides, some natural products also exist in vegetables, fruits and beverages [22]. Medical plants initially draw attention as antimicrobial agents with the extraction of the active compound and essential oils. In a study on 66 essential oils and compounds that exhibited >80% inhibition towards Salmonella typhimurium DT104 and E. coli O157: H7, nine were further studied [23]. They showed that most of the oils and compounds demonstrated high efficacy against S. typhimurium DT104, E. coli O157: H7, and E. coli with K88 pili. In addition, they significantly inhibited E. coli and coliform bacteria in the digest, but had little effect on the total number of lactobacilli and anaerobic bacteria. The chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pelargonium odoratissimum (L.) L'Her., Geraniaceae, was determined and the antimicrobial activities against the S. aureus ATCC 25923 and E. coliATCC 25 992 were evaluated and exhibited an effect on the bacteria at the concentrations tested [24].

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vandykecarolpdrf7 · 6 years ago

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Should I Buy Organic Fish and Seafood Products?

In response to recommendations by major health organizations, many people — including those following a low-carb or keto diet — have increased the amount of seafood they eat. Although research has shown a strong link between regular consumption of certain fish and reduced disease risk, there are also concerns about the health and environmental impact of current seafood trends.

In this article, I'll discuss the benefits and risks of including fish and shellfish in your diet and provide recommendations for making the healthiest and most sustainable choices.

Benefits of Seafood Excellent Source of Omega-3 Fats

Many of seafood's benefits have been attributed to the long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in fatty or oily fish like salmon, sardines, mackerel, herring, and anchovies.

The two omega-3 PUFAs that have evidence-based health benefits are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These healthy fats may help reduce inflammation that's at the root of heart disease, autoimmune disease, and other chronic health conditions (1). EPA and especially DHA are also crucial for proper brain and eye development from conception through childhood, and they remain important for cognitive function throughout our lives (2, 3).

DHA and EPA are found mainly in animal products, although algae also contains DHA. Fatty fish is the best source of these omega-3's, and studies suggest that eating it on a regular basis may help reduce disease risk.

Research on Fish High in Omega-3 PUFAs

Heart disease: A large review examining the risks vs. benefits of seafood consumption concluded that consuming fatty fish 1-2 times per week reduces the risk of having a fatal heart attack by 36% (4).

Ulcerative colitis: A small 8-week controlled trial in patients with ulcerative colitis found that consuming 2 servings of salmon per week led to a reduction in inflammatory markers and a significant decrease in self-reported symptoms (5).

Liver cancer: A systematic review of 11 observational studies found a strong association between high consumption of fatty fish and reduced risk of liver cancer (6).

Research on Fish of All Types

Fish may also provide health benefits beyond omega-3 PUFAs:

Cognitive function: Studies have linked frequent consumption of all types of fish to increased brain gray matter and improved cognitive function in older adults, independent of omega-3 intake (7, 8).

Breast cancer: Researchers who analyzed data from more than 9,000 women over a 27-year period found that consuming 4 or more servings of fish per week was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer than consuming 2 or fewer servings of fish per week (9).

Concerns About Seafood

Although the health benefits of seafood are impressive, legitimate concerns have been raised about it.

Mercury

Mercury (technically methylmercury) is a heavy metal that can have devastating effects on human health at high levels of exposure, especially the brain, nerves, and heart. Over time, concentrations in our oceans have increased, due in large part to burning fossil fuels and mining coal in order to meet the world's growing energy demands.

Our main exposure to mercury is through the food chain. Algae becomes contaminated by mercury in the ocean, and small fish consume it. These small fish are then eaten by larger fish that store mercury in their fat, and these larger fish are consumed by humans.

The amount of mercury in fish varies greatly, with large predator fish like shark, King mackerel and swordfish having the most mercury and smaller fish and shellfish having the least.

As part of a large 2014 study, over 10,000 people filled out questionnaires about their seafood consumption within the previous month. Although fewer than 5% of the respondents had elevated blood mercury levels, those who reported eating high-mercury fish were 4 times more likely to have excessive mercury in their blood than people who mainly ate other types of seafood (10).

Importantly, selenium helps counteract the damaging effects of mercury, and seafood is an excellent source of selenium. However, in the case of high-mercury fish, the ratio of selenium to mercury may be too low to prevent mercury toxicity (11).

Because mercury can disrupt normal brain development in babies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommend that pregnant and nursing women limit their intake of fish moderate in mercury and avoid fish high in mercury altogether.

For others, although the effects of low-level mercury exposure over time aren't known, research suggests that the benefits of consuming most types of fish outweigh the risks (4).

PCBs and Dioxins

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxins are highly toxic pollutants found in several foods, including meat, vegetables, and seafood. Dioxins are created during treatment of waste products and production of herbicides and pesticides. PCBs were previously used in electrical equipment, plastics, and dyes until they were banned in 1977. However, both PCBs and dioxins continue to contaminate the environment, although their concentrations are slowly declining (14).

At very high levels of exposure, dioxins and PCBs may cause problems with neurological, reproductive, and immune function, and may also increase diabetes and cancer risk (12, 13).

In fish from the US and most Western countries, these and other contaminants are well below acceptable limits set by government health agencies. However, fish from other countries may contain much higher amounts. Although imported seafood is required to be inspected by the FDA, several sources state that only about 2% actually is. Therefore, fish with high levels of contaminants may still get into the US food supply.

Additionally, seafood from fish farms in China, Vietnam, and the Philippines may contain residues from antibiotics, which are banned on fish farms in the US and Europe.

Overfishing

With increased seafood consumption, the number of fish in our oceans has declined. According to a 2016 report by the Food and Agriculture Association (FAO), about one third of our oceans are overfished, and more than half are fully fished.

Overfishing of herring, sardines, and anchovies leads to loss of larger fish, sea mammals, and sea birds that depend on a steady supply of these fish for food (15). Some of the affected fish may be endangered and protected species, leading to undesirable shifts in our marine ecosystems.

Aquaculture (Fish farming)

In order to meet the growing demand for seafood, “aquaculture” (raising fish and shellfish for food) has become a major industry worldwide. Farmed fish and shellfish are housed in large cages that are submerged in the ocean, lakes, or ponds.

Currently, more than half of all seafood consumed by humans is farm raised, and according to World Bank, that amount will increase to nearly two thirds by 2030.

Similar to industrial farming of land animals, aquaculture has been criticized for providing fish with overcrowded living environments and unnatural diets. Although the fish are fed fish meal, which contains ground-up fish, they are often also given soybean and corn. As a result, their omega-3 PUFA content is lower than wild fish that eat smaller fish and sea plants. However, some farms have begun growing algae as food for these fish in order to boost their omega-3 content.

Another concern is that since standards vary from country to country, farm-raised fish from certain nations are much higher in contaminants than wild fish (16).

Wild Fish vs. Farmed Fish

Is it better to choose wild or farmed fish? In some cases, you may not have much choice. For instance, an estimated 80-90% of all shrimp is farm raised.

Fortunately, in terms of calorie and nutrient content, farmed and wild seafood are typically very similar.

Farm-raised salmon has a somewhat different nutrition profile than wild salmon, though, due to the differences in their diets (17).

Most of the wild salmon sold in the US is from the Pacific ocean, whereas nearly all Atlantic salmon is farmed.

Here is a comparison of the calories and macronutrients in a 100-gram (3.5-ounce) portion of wild salmon and farm-raised salmon (18, 19):

Nutritional Information (per 100 g/ 3.5 oz) Wild Salmon Farmed Salmon Calories 142 kcal 208 kcal Total Fat 6.3 g 13.4 g Omega-3 2 g 2.5 g Omega-6 0.17 g 0.98 g Omega-6/Omega-3 0.09 0.4 Monounsaturated 2.1 3.8 Saturated 1 g 3 g Protein 19.8 g 20.4 g

Farmed salmon is higher in calories and fat yet roughly equal in protein compared to wild salmon. Although farmed salmon contains more omega-6 fats than wild varieties do, they are both excellent sources of omega-3 fats and have extremely low omega-6:omega-3 ratios.

Other types of responsibly farmed fish from the US that are a good source of omega-3's are rainbow trout, oysters, and artic char.

Making the Best Seafood Choices

Here are several ways to make the healthiest fish and shellfish choices.

Sustainability

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch has a downloadable, printable guide that can help you choose fish and shellfish that are fished or raised responsibly, contain fewer contaminants, and have the least impact on the environment.

Fish and Shellfish Lowest in Mercury

According to FDA data obtained between 1997-2010, these fish and shellfish have the lowest mercury concentrations:

Scallops

Clams

Shrimp

Oysters

Sardines

Tilapia

Canned salmon

Anchovies

Fresh or frozen salmon

Fish and Shellfish Highest in Mercury

These fish are extremely high in mercury and should be avoided altogether by pregnant or nursing women and small children. Everyone else should eat them rarely, if at all:

Swordfish

Shark

King mackerel

Tilefish

Bigeye tuna

Orange roughy

Marlin

General Tips for Safely Including Seafood in Your Diet Eat Fatty Fish Regularly

Aim for about 170-200 grams (6-7 ounces) of fatty fish per week. Doing this on a regular basis helps you meet your omega-3 PUFA needs.

Pregnant and nursing women should consume fish 2-3 times per week. Select from the “Best Choices” list on this guide. Try to choose sardines, salmon, and anchovies most often to ensure that your baby receives enough DHA for optimal brain growth and development.

Not All Farmed Fish Is Bad for You

Don't fear all farmed seafood. Fish and shellfish from US farms are required to meet certain standards in order to be sold to the public. It's nearly impossible to consume only wild fish, with a few exceptions like salmon.

Avoid or limit fish farmed in Asia. These tend to be higher in PCBs, dioxins, and other contaminants. Additionally, they may contain antibiotic residues.

Say Yes to Canned Fish

Canned fatty fish is healthy and economical. Nearly all canned salmon, sardines, and anchovies are wild. Ideally, purchase brands that use BPA-free cans, such as Wild Planet.

If Catching Your Own

Use caution when eating your own catches. If you catch your own fish and shellfish or consume seafood caught by others, make sure to check with local health authorities about potential contaminants.

Consider Testing Your Mercury Levels

Have your mercury level tested, especially if you're planning to become pregnant. If you eat large amounts of fish on a regular basis, it's a good idea to ask your doctor to check your blood mercury level.

Take Home Message

Fish and shellfish provide several health benefits. Fatty or oily fish — such as salmon, herring, sardines, and anchovies — are an excellent source of omega-3 PUFAs that help control inflammation and may reduce disease risk.

However, questions remain about the health impact of consuming potentially contaminated seafood frequently, along with concerns about the environmental consequences of overfishing and poorly managed fish farms in some countries.

When it comes to health and sustainability, it's important to know where your seafood is coming from.

Overall, based on numerous studies and opinions from several experts, the benefits of eating seafood far outweigh the risks, as long as certain guidelines are followed when choosing what types to eat and how often to consume them.

Also read: Should I Buy Organic, Grass-Fed, and Pastured Animal Products?

https://ift.tt/2BRos0l

#Should I Buy Organic Fish and Seafood Products?

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earth-as-art · 8 years ago

Photo

Flood Waters Reach Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre

Taken by the EarthKAM camera on the International Space Station, this photograph shows Australia’s largest inland lake. Lake Eyre is easily recognizable from space, being a large, white-floored lake bed that is usually dry. However, a remarkable, periodic change was visible in February 2017.

Tan, green, and blue splotches stretching across the lake bed are the result of flood waters channeled down Warburton Groove. The Warburton Creek enters Lake Eyre at its northern end, and is seen here flooding into the dry lake. The event gave rise to a variety of colors indicating new vegetation, algae-tinted water, and muds transported by the flood water. A smaller discolored zone appears where the southern arm of the Warburton delta has also spilled water onto the lake floor (image center).

In this desert region, flood waters rarely reach the lake, instead evaporating along the way or getting absorbed by dune sand. But after heavy rains fell in late 2016, floods in rivers like the Warburton and Cooper have managed to reach Lake Eyre after a delay of months as the water slowly rolled across the vast watershed. As of February 20, 2017, water was reported to be flowing down the entire length of the lake (130 kilometers, or 80 miles), and reaching one of the lowest points (15 meters or 50 feet below sea level) at Belt Bay, where the water depth was measured at 1.3 meters (4 feet).

The lake is now formally known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Australia is one of many countries that have adopted a dual-naming policy for some natural features and cities.

Click here for a view of lake as it appeared from the space shuttle in December 1990.

EarthKAM photograph CCFID_126465_2017038014745 was acquired on February 14, 2017, with a Nikon D2Xs digital camera using a 50 mm lens, and is provided by Sally Ride EarthKAM@Space Camp on the International Space Station. The caption is provided by the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center. EarthKAM (Earth Knowledge Acquired by Middle school students) is a NASA educational outreach program that enables students, teachers, and the public to learn about Earth from the unique perspective of space. During Sally Ride EarthKAM missions, middle school students around the world request images of specific locations on Earth. The image in this article has been enhanced to improve contrast. Caption by M. Justin Wilkinson, Texas State University, Jacobs Contract at NASA-JSC.

Instrument(s): ISS - Digital Camera

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jthurlow · 5 years ago

Text

Faint Algae Bloom at LakeO, S-308, C-44 Canal, Martin County

First of all, let’s recognize that we are stressed out enough social distancing due to the coronavirus. Nonetheless, for our waters, we must pay attention on every front. Right now, the St Lucie Riverand nearshore reefs are absolutely beautiful, and there is not a threat from Lake Okeechobee or area canals as it is not raining very much. Lake Okeechobee is at 11.85 feet NVGD, therefore, the…

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#ACOE Periodic Scientist Calls #Aerial photos update March 2020 #algae 2020?#Algae blooms starting #algae in c-44 canal #C-44 #C-44 algae bloom 2020 #C-44 canal #Cyanobacteria 2020 #Ed Lippisch Scott Kuhns #Faint Algae Bloom at LakeO #Martin County #S-308 #S-80 #SFWMD ecological conditions report #water supply C-44

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wigmund · 8 years ago

Photo

From NASA Earth Observatory Image of the Day; February 27, 2017:

Flood Waters Reach Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre

The lake is now formally known as Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre. Australia is one of many countries that have adopted a dual-naming policy for some natural features and cities.

Click here for a view of lake as it appeared from the space shuttle in December 1990.

#earth observatory #international space station #lakes #Lake Eyre #Kati Thanda–Lake Eyre #flooding #Kati Thanda #South Australia #Australia #long post

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iasshikshalove · 5 years ago

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Daily Current Affairs 1st March 2020

Today ’s Important Topic ’s For UPSC Preparation

1. U.S. TALIBAN AGREEMENT TO END 18-YEAR-LONG- AFGHAN WAR.

2. J&K USES 2011 DATA FOR DELIMITATION. 3. NPR 2020.

4. NCBS METHOD TO DETECT VIRUS ASSOCIATED WITH RARE SKIN CANCER.

5. RED SNOW.

6. GAHIRMATHA DOLPHINS.

7. KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK.

I U.S. TALIBAN AGREEMENT TO END 18-YEAR-LONG-AFGHAN WAR:

The U.S. signed a deal with the Taliban that could pave the way for a full withdrawal of foreign soldiers from Afghanistan over the next 14 months and represents a step towards ending the 18-year-war in the

The deal was signed in the Qatari capital Doha by S. Special Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban political chief Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.

The United States said it is committed to reducing the number of its troops to 8,600 from the current 13,000 within 135 days of signing the deal.

It also said it is working with allies to proportionally reduce the number of coalition forces in Afghanistan, if the Taliban were to adhere to its commitments.

A full withdrawal of all foreign forces would occur within 14 months of the deal getting signed if the Taliban holds up its end of the deal, the joint statement

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani expressed hope that the deal signed between the S. and the Taliban in Doha would pave the way towards lasting peace.

after the year 2026 have been published”, it shall not be necessary to readjustThe new Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) will be the only place in the country to undergo a delimitation exercise based on the population figures recorded in the 2011 census.

The latest readjustment of boundaries of constituencies in the States and other Union Territories has been done on the basis of the 2001 census and in future, it will be carried out based on the 2031 census.

The unique provision for J&K was enabled through an amendment introduced in the J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019. The Act passed by Parliament on August 6 bifurcated the State of J&K into the Union Territories of J&K (with a legislature) and Ladakh (without legislature).

Delimitation was last done in J&K in 1995.

Section 63 was introduced in the J&K Reorganisation Act so that the delimitation exercise can be conducted smoothly without overlapping with other provisions of the Delimitation Commission Act, 2002.

Section 63 (special provisions as to readjustment of Assembly and Lok Sabha constituencies) says that “until the relevant figures for the first census taken the constituencies and any reference to the “latest census figures” shall be construed as a reference to the 2011 census figures.

The Act says the number of seats in the Assembly would be increased from 107 to 114.

The full Delimitation Commission is yet to be appointed. III NPR 2020:

What is NPR (National Population Register)?

The NPR is a database of usual residents in the country who have stayed in a local area for the past six months or more and who intend to remain in the same place for the next six months or more.

The NPR is individual and identity specific unlike the Census which only provides information on the status of the residents of India and population Swings

The NPR 2020 enumeration exercise will be undertaken during April– September this year.

licence, if available with the residents on a voluntary basis.

Unlike in the 2010 NPR, the new format for NPR 2020 requires residents to disclose their mother tongue and the places and dates of birth of their parents even if they are not living in the same household at the time or not

Individuals have to disclose the districts and States of their parents’

Why in News?

The Bihar Assembly passed a unanimous resolution stating that there is no need for a National Register of Citizens in the State and that the implementation of the National Population Register (NPR) would be done strictly according to the 2010 format.

An ally of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made it clear that the 2020 format of the NPR has several contentious clauses.

Team from National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bengaluru, has developed a diagnostic system to detect the presence of Merkel cell polyomavirus in Merkel cell carcinoma tumours.

Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer.

The researchers have developed a test using the CRISPR-CAS12 technology that can identify the virus in the tumour and give off a fluorescence to indicate the presence of the virus.

This is an important development, both, from the point of view of diagnostics and giving a prognosis for the

Merkel cell carcinoma is associated with old age, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light and a weak immune system.

A virus that is part of the normal skin flora – the Merkel cell polyomavirus – can get integrated in the human genome and undergo a mutation which causes it to promote the

In studies, in about 60-80% of Merkel cell carcinoma patients, the tumours were found to test positive for the virus.

The team adapted a system named DETECTR (DNA endonuclease-targeted CRISPR trans reporter) to help them in this

We find that if Merkel cell polyoma virus is present at even femto-moles we can detect viral DNA and thereby diagnose the

Red snow which is also called “watermelon snow” which is located off the coast Antarctica’s northern most peninsula is caused by an algae that freezing weather that makes white snow looks red.

Watermelon snow was first recorded by Greek philosopher Aristotle over 2000 years ago. He had explained the existence of the reddish snow in “History of Animals”.

This blood red snow in Antarctica was first shared by Ukrainian scientist and biologist Andriy Zotov and this picture is of a research station in Antarctica.

The snow is red because of a red-pigmented, microscopic algae called Chlamydomonas nivalis , which thrives in freezing water as the ice melts.

The algae when exposed to sun during summer, the Usually-Green algae turns pink even red to keep itself warm.

The main concern is that for its survival it absorbs more heat and keep itself warm which is dangerous for the glaciers that are melting away at quick

VI GAHIRMATHA DOLPHINS:

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary:

Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary is located in Odisha. It is located in the Bhitarkanika National Park. It is world-famous for Olive Ridley sea turtles.

The 2020 dolphin census revealed that dolphins are migrating out of this marine sanctuary into the deep sea.

Humpback dolphin is a coastal dolphin found in Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

It is found along the coasts of Indian Ocean and coasts of West

It is listed under appendix I and II of the convention on the conservation of migratory species of wild animals.

Migration of dolphins from Odisha’s Gahirmatha marine sanctuary to deep sea; climate change and unfavourable weather; illegal fishing practices — these were the reasons why aquatic mammals’ population saw a decline in the

62 dolphins were spotted at Gahirmatha — down from 126 in 2019. Their number was pegged at 307 in 2015.

The state’s total dolphin count was pegged at 233, down from 259 in 2019, according to the new census report. Their total count in 2018 was 469.

Reduction in the dolphin count could be due to their migration from Gahiramatha to Chilika lake and towards the deep sea. Climate change and bad weather could have also pushed them towards deep sea. Their death is an unlikely reason, as only a few carcasses have been found on the

Meanwhile, according to the census report, Irrawaady dolphins saw a spurt in Chilika lake. The count of Irrawaddy dolphins increased to 146 from 130 in 2019.

Irrawaddy dolphins reside in estuaries of Chilika lake. Humpback dolphins live in sea water near the coast at Gahirmatha. Many Irrawaddy dolphins migrated to Chilika Lake from Gahrimatha this year. Erratic and untimely rain due to climate change reduced the saltiness of sea water, due to which humpback dolphins migrated into the deep sea as well.

VII KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK:

The 430 sq.km national park is located in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam.

In 1968 it was given National Park status and in 1985 it was declareed UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) for its unique natural

It is home to World’s largest population of One Horned Rhinoceros e. about 68%.

The one-horned rhinoceroses are listed as vulnerable on IUCN Red list of Threatened

It is also recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by Birdlife

International for conservation of avifaunal species.

It encompasses 8 ranges under two wildlife divisions:

Along with the iconic Greater one-horned rhinoceros, the park is the breeding ground of elephants, wild water buffalo, and swamp deer.

Over the time, the tiger population has also increased in Kaziranga, and that’s the reason why Kaziranga was declared as Tiger Reserve in 2006.

Kumbhi, Indian gooseberry, the cotton tree, and elephant Apple are amongst the famous trees that can be seen in the

WORD OF THE DAY

Blasphemy:

The definition of blasphemy is saying something concerning God that is very disrespectful.

It can also refer to degrading religious concepts or literature. Blasphemy can be included in speech, an act, writing, music, or art.

CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ

Which of the following National Parks is unique in being a swamp with floating vegetation that supports a rich biodiversity?

Bhitarkanika National Park

Keibul Lamjao National Park

Keoladeo Ghana National park

Sultanpur National park

Place of Pilgrimage : Location

Srisailam : Nallamala Hills

Omkareshwar : Satmala Hills

Pushkar : Mahadeo Hills

Which of the above pairs is/are correctly matched?

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1,2 and 3

Which of the following brings out the ‘Consumer Price Index Number for the Industrial Workers’?

The Reserve Bank of India

The Department of Economic Affairs

The Labour Bureau

The Department of Personnel and Training

Consider the following rivers:

Vamsadhara

Indravati

Pranahita

Pennar

Which of the above are tributaries of Godavari

1,2 and 3

2,3 and 4

1,2 and 4

2 and 3 only

With reference to the art and archaeo logical history of India, which one among the following was made earliest?

Lingaraja Temple at Bhubneshwar

Rock-cut Elephant at Dhauli

Rock-cut Monuments at Mahabalipuram

varaha Image at Udayagiri

#ias #UPSC #Current Affairs #Daily Current Affairs #monthlycurrentaffairs weeklycurrentaffairs 19marchcurrent affair

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