Study on the Repairing Effect of Cosmetics Containing <i>Artemisia annua</i>on Sensitive Skin

In view of the increasing sensitivity of consumer skin in recent years, cosmetics containing Artemisia annua extract was tested to evaluate its effectiveness in repairing sensitive skin. Through the experiment of xylene-induced ear swelling in mice, it was found that the inhibition rates of ear swelling in mice induced by xylene in three groups of cosmetics containing Artemisia annua extract reached 60.40%, 73.36% and 74.01%, respectively, close to the positive drug group. Twenty-five sensitive skin volunteers were selected for human clinical trial, and the skin TEWL value, cuticle hydration degree and skin heme (ultra-high concentration) were tested. The results showed that using cosmetics containing Artemisia annua extract for four weeks could effectively increase the hydration degree of cheek cuticle by 63.90% and reduce transepidermal waterloss (TEWL) by 21.51%. The skin heme (ultra-high concentration) decreased by 69.14% and the affected area decreased by 77.47%. The results show that the cosmetics containing Artemisia annua extract can inhibit inflammation, repair skin barrier, improve damaged skin, and reduce redness and other sensitive skin symptoms.

Study of non-revenue water status and enforcement measures to reduce water loss:case study in villages of Kermanshah Province of Iran

In this study, the volume and the cash value of water loss, and reduction of water loss as a result of enforcement action during 2011-2013 in the drinking water network of villages in Kermanshah Province, tran, have been investigated. Date collected by referring to the different parts of rural water and waste water company of Kermanshah Province and checklist were completed. The study showed the volume of produced water and sold water has increased and the water loss percentage has decreased. High cost of water production compared to revenue of sold water and water loss resulted in significant detriments in terms of the water production costs. Water loss level decreased from 33% to 30% as result of measures taken to reduce water loss but, it is still 15% higher than the world average level. Also the reduction in number of water resources and increase in the number and volume of reservoirs indicates a lack of water and a growing need. As result of high water loss, waste of costs in the contrast of water production cost and also because physical water loss accounts for most of the water loss of villages, necessary measures can be effective in reducing loss and have economic justification.

A Catastrophe Model to Assess Soil Restoration Under Ecological Restoration in the Red Soil Hilly Region of China

Current methods that utilize simple data or models to evaluate soil restoration under ecological restoration are not sufficiently rigorous.Soil restoration under ecological restoration measures was evaluated in the red soil hilly region of China by applying the catastrophe model.Among 89 soil sites selected,26(29.21%) were in the middle lobe,10(11.24%) in the upper lobe,and 53(70.79%)in the lower lobe of the process surface in the Cusp catastrophe model.The catastrophic direction of the 26 unstable soil sites was to the upper lobe of the process surface according to vegetation cover change and fieldwork.There was a significant negative correlation of the variation in bifurcation set(? value) with vegetation cover increase,and a higher vegetation cover increase was related to higher unstable probability.The four ecological restoration measures were listed in the order:low-quality forest improvement(LQFI)>arbor-bush-herb mixed plantation(ABHMP)>orchard improvement(OI)>closing measures(CM) according to the proportions of unstable soil sites,which were all higher than no restoration measure,while they were in the order:LQFI<ABHMP<OI<CM according to their ? values,which were all lower than those of no restoration measure.Farmers' assessment of soil restoration under the four ecological restoration measures was in accordance with the proportions of unstable soil sites and inversely proportional to the? value.Therefore,farmers' assessment can prove the evaluation of soil restoration under ecological restoration measures based on catastrophe model.