ABSTRACT
The Gaza Strip suffers severe constraints in water supply due to its location, confinement, high population density and semi-arid coastal climate. To improve water and agricultural resources, a study was undertaken to show the requirements in planning and management for wastewater treatment, irrigation conveyance and aquifer recharge to meet high technical standards and sustainable economic benefits. Particular attention is paid to economic, financial and socioeconomic analysis. This paper discusses the impact that wastewater reuse will have on the water resources as part of the overall water balance in the Gaza Strip.
Subject(s)
Agricultural Irrigation , Conservation of Natural Resources , Water Supply , Agricultural Irrigation/economics , Groundwater , Middle East , Sewage , Socioeconomic Factors , Waste ManagementABSTRACT
Full-scale investigations at a WWTP with a two-stage secondary settling tank process revealed relationships between significant operating parameters and performance in terms of effluent suspended solids concentration. Besides common parameters (e.g. surface overflow rate and sludge volume loading rate) feed SS concentration and flocculation time must be considered. Concentration of the return activated sludge may help to estimate the performance of existing secondary settling tanks.
Subject(s)
Sewage , Waste Disposal, Fluid/instrumentation , Waste Disposal, Fluid/methods , Water Movements , Water Purification/instrumentation , Water Purification/methods , Bioreactors , Germany , Models, Theoretical , Time Factors , WaterABSTRACT
Normal newborns regularly form circulating antibodies to milk proteins by 10 to 14 days of life. Concentrations of these antibodies are influenced by gestational age but not by passive maternal antibody. Secretory antibodies of the IgA and IgM-isotype directed against casein and beta-lactoglobulin are present in the saliva of normal neonates. SIgA-anti-casein is higher in saliva of newborns at risk to develop atopic disease.
Subject(s)
Antibody Formation , Milk Proteins/immunology , Caseins/immunology , Gestational Age , Humans , Hypersensitivity/immunology , Immunoglobulin A, Secretory/analysis , Immunoglobulin E/analysis , Immunoglobulin M/analysis , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Lactalbumin/immunology , Lactoglobulins/immunology , Saliva/immunologyABSTRACT
Secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) anti-casein and SIgA anti-beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) were determined in the saliva of 158 healthy mature infants at birth and in breast milk samples using a direct Elisa technique. IgG anti-casein and anti-BLG were measured in serum samples from mothers and newborns (cord blood). A high risk of allergy was defined in 66 infants who had cord blood (CB)-IgE levels greater than or equal to 0.9 IU/ml and/or parents with atopic diseases. Thirty infants had CB levels less than 0.9 IU/ml and parents without clinical symptoms of atopy but with elevated serum IgE concentrations or type I skin reactions to common allergens (low risk). Sixty-two infants had CB-IgE levels less than 0.9 IU/ml and healthy parents (no risk). The groups were matched for social status, smoking and dietary habits. SIgA anti-casein and anti-BLG were detected in all newborns. SIgA anti-casein was significantly higher (p less than 0.05) in high risk infants (medium 157; 50% confidence limits 45-270) than in no risk (48; 25-150) or low risk infants (43; 21-130). SIgA anti-casein values correlated with maternal allergy, maternal allergy plus CB-IgE, but not with paternal allergy. Breast milk SIgA anti-BLG was depressed (p less than 0.05) in mothers with manifest allergy compared to healthy mothers. Determination of salivary SIgA anti-casein may represent an additional screening method for early detection of infants with atopic disposition.
