Friction is a major inhibitor in almost every mechanical system. Enlightened by the Leidenfrost effect - a droplet can be levitated by its own vapor layer on a sufficiently hot surface - we demonstrate for the first time that a small cart can also be levitated by Leidenfrost vapor. The levitated cart can carry certain amount of load and move frictionlessly over the hot surface. The maximum load...

Freshwater scarcity is increasingly perceived as a global systemic risk. Previous global water scarcity assessments, measuring water scarcity annually, have underestimated experienced water scarcity by failing to capture the seasonal fluctuations in water consumption and availability. We assess blue water scarcity globally at a high spatial resolution on a monthly basis. We find that two-thirds...

A close relation exist between Forest products industries and water cycle. Water as a natural resource is assumed to be a necessary and vital element in pulp and paper manufacturing and power generation in the related power plants. The objective of the current study is to determine the main factors affecting the water consumption in recycled paper manufacturing companies using analytical hierar...

The presence of substantial genetic variation for water-use efficiency (WUE) suggests that natural selection plays a role in maintaining alleles that affect WUE. Soil water deficit can reduce plant survival, and is likely to impose selection to increase WUE, whereas competition for resources may select for decreased WUE to ensure water acquisition. We tested the fitness consequences of natural ...

Background & objectives: One of the biggest concerns about the increasing development of the mining industries, especially in the dry and tropical regions, is their high water consumption and, consequently, the serious threat to the local water resources as well as the impacts of these industrieschr('39') pollution on the environment and other downstream water resources. Therefore, it is necess...

Male rats were given daily sessions during which a palatable saccharin solution was available. Based on intakes averaged over 3 days, groups with low, intermediate, or high intake of saccharin were formed. These rats were then given daily sessions in which alcohol (2-8%) or water were available. Initially, sessions were conducted with rats on a food restriction schedule; in later sessions, food...

BACKGROUND Cocaine use seems to be increasing in some urban areas worldwide, but it is not straightforward to determine the real extent of this phenomenon. Trends in drug abuse are currently estimated indirectly, mainly by large-scale social, medical, and crime statistics that may be biased or too generic. We thus tested a more direct approach based on 'field' evidence of cocaine use by the gen...

In this study, the energy consumption of Nasirabad Industrial Park (NIP) treatment plant was evaluated. A combination of up-flow anaerobic baffled reactor (UABR) and aerobic integrated fixed-bed activated sludge (IFAS) processes were employed in NIP. To find out the average electrical energy use per m3 influent wastewater, the rate of energy usage of the plant was calculated by data ...