Showing papers by "University of Peradeniya published in 2015"
TL;DR: In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) as discussed by the authors, the authors used the GBD 2010 methods with some refinements to improve accuracy applied to an updated database of vital registration, survey, and census data.
5,792 citations
Mohammad H. Forouzanfar1, Lily Alexander, H. Ross Anderson, Victoria F Bachman1 +733 more•Institutions (289)
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) as discussed by the authors provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.
5,668 citations
TL;DR: In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) as mentioned in this paper, the authors estimated the quantities for acute and chronic diseases and injuries for 188 countries between 1990 and 2013.
4,510 citations
Mohammad H. Forouzanfar1, Lily Alexander1, H. Ross Anderson2, Victoria F Bachman1 +718 more•Institutions (295)
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor study 2013 (GBD 2013) as mentioned in this paper provides a timely opportunity to update the comparative risk assessment with new data for exposure, relative risks, and evidence on the appropriate counterfactual risk distribution.
1,656 citations
Christopher J L Murray1, Ryan M Barber, Kyle J Foreman2, Ayse Abbasoglu Ozgoren +608 more•Institutions (251)
TL;DR: Patterns of the epidemiological transition with a composite indicator of sociodemographic status, which was constructed from income per person, average years of schooling after age 15 years, and the total fertility rate and mean age of the population, were quantified.
1,609 citations
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute1, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute2, National Museum of Natural History3, University of Alabama4, Stanford University5, Wilfrid Laurier University6, Mahidol University7, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation8, University of Aberdeen9, Environmental Change Institute10, University of Queensland11, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden12, University of Buea13, Indiana University14, United States Forest Service15, Indian Institute of Science16, Chinese Academy of Sciences17, National University of Colombia18, Forest Research Institute Malaysia19, University of California, Santa Cruz20, University of Peradeniya21, University of Hong Kong22, University of Alberta23, Oak Ridge National Laboratory24, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay25, University of California, Los Angeles26, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources27, Wageningen University and Research Centre28, Kyoto University29, University of Nairobi30, Wildlife Conservation Society31, University of Montana32, Nanyang Technological University33, Utah State University34, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center35, Centre national de la recherche scientifique36, Natural England37, Washington University in St. Louis38, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic39, University of São Paulo40, University of the Philippines Diliman41, Harvard University42, University of Hawaii at Hilo43, Maejo University44, National Dong Hwa University45, University of Toronto46, Washington State University Vancouver47, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras48, Columbia University49, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador50, National Institute of Amazonian Research51, East China Normal University52, University of Minnesota53
TL;DR: The broad suite of measurements made at CTFS-ForestGEO sites makes it possible to investigate the complex ways in which global change is impacting forest dynamics, and continued monitoring will provide vital contributions to understanding worldwide forest diversity and dynamics in an era of global change.
Abstract: Global change is impacting forests worldwide, threatening biodiversity and ecosystem services including climate regulation. Understanding how forests respond is critical to forest conservation and climate protection. This review describes an international network of 59 long-term forest dynamics research sites (CTFS-ForestGEO) useful for characterizing forest responses to global change. Within very large plots (median size 25ha), all stems 1cm diameter are identified to species, mapped, and regularly recensused according to standardized protocols. CTFS-ForestGEO spans 25 degrees S-61 degrees N latitude, is generally representative of the range of bioclimatic, edaphic, and topographic conditions experienced by forests worldwide, and is the only forest monitoring network that applies a standardized protocol to each of the world's major forest biomes. Supplementary standardized measurements at subsets of the sites provide additional information on plants, animals, and ecosystem and environmental variables. CTFS-ForestGEO sites are experiencing multifaceted anthropogenic global change pressures including warming (average 0.61 degrees C), changes in precipitation (up to +/- 30% change), atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur compounds (up to 3.8g Nm(-2)yr(-1) and 3.1g Sm(-2)yr(-1)), and forest fragmentation in the surrounding landscape (up to 88% reduced tree cover within 5km). The broad suite of measurements made at CTFS-ForestGEO sites makes it possible to investigate the complex ways in which global change is impacting forest dynamics. Ongoing research across the CTFS-ForestGEO network is yielding insights into how and why the forests are changing, and continued monitoring will provide vital contributions to understanding worldwide forest diversity and dynamics in an era of global change.
470 citations
TL;DR: This article focuses on the application of advanced smart antenna technologies to SWIPT, including multiple-input multiple-output and relaying techniques, which have the potential to significantly improve the energy efficiency and also the spectral efficiency ofSWIPT.
Abstract: Simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) is a promising solution to increase the lifetime of wireless nodes and hence alleviate the energy bottleneck of energy constrained wireless networks. As an alternative to conventional energy harvesting techniques, SWIPT relies on the use of radio frequency signals, and is expected to bring some fundamental changes to the design of wireless communication networks. This article focuses on the application of advanced smart antenna technologies to SWIPT, including multiple-input multiple-output and relaying techniques. These smart antenna technologies have the potential to significantly improve the energy efficiency and also the spectral efficiency of SWIPT. Different network topologies with single and multiple users are investigated, along with some promising solutions to achieve a favorable trade-off between system performance and complexity. A detailed discussion of future research challenges for the design of SWIPT systems is also provided.
438 citations
J. W. Ferry Slik, Víctor Arroyo-Rodríguez1, Shin-ichiro Aiba2, Patricia Alvarez-Loayza3 +173 more•Institutions (74)
TL;DR: It is shown that most tree species are extremely rare, meaning that they may be under serious risk of extinction at current deforestation rates, and a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees is provided that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.
Abstract: The high species richness of tropical forests has long been recognized, yet there remains substantial uncertainty regarding the actual number of tropical tree species. Using a pantropical tree inventory database from closed canopy forests, consisting of 657,630 trees belonging to 11,371 species, we use a fitted value of Fisher's alpha and an approximate pantropical stem total to estimate the minimum number of tropical forest tree species to fall between similar to 40,000 and similar to 53,000, i.e., at the high end of previous estimates. Contrary to common assumption, the Indo-Pacific region was found to be as species-rich as the Neotropics, with both regions having a minimum of similar to 19,000-25,000 tree species. Continental Africa is relatively depauperate with a minimum of similar to 4,500-6,000 tree species. Very few species are shared among the African, American, and the Indo-Pacific regions. We provide a methodological framework for estimating species richness in trees that may help refine species richness estimates of tree-dependent taxa.
338 citations
Australian National University1, University of Minnesota2, University of Western Sydney3, Carnegie Institution for Science4, Institut national de la recherche agronomique5, Max Planck Society6, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation7, James Cook University8, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru9, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto10, Purdue University11, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens12, Princeton University13, University of Leeds14, Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory15, University of Edinburgh16, University of New Hampshire17, University of Western Australia18, Imperial College London19, University of Waikato20, Environmental Change Institute21, Macquarie University22, University of Exeter23, University of Toronto24, National Parks Board25, Estonian University of Life Sciences26, Wageningen University and Research Centre27, Colorado State University28, University of Florida29, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute30, University of Canterbury31, University of Regina32, Spanish National Research Council33, University of Peradeniya34, Leipzig University35, Chinese Academy of Sciences36
TL;DR: A new global database of Rdark and associated leaf traits is analyzed and values at any given Vcmax or leaf nitrogen concentration were higher in herbs than in woody plants, and variation in Rdark among species and across global gradients in T and aridity is highlighted.
Abstract: Leaf dark respiration (R-dark) is an important yet poorly quantified component of the global carbon cycle. Given this, we analyzed a new global database of R-dark and associated leaf traits. Data for 899 species were compiled from 100 sites (from the Arctic to the tropics). Several woody and nonwoody plant functional types (PFTs) were represented. Mixed-effects models were used to disentangle sources of variation in R-dark. Area-based R-dark at the prevailing average daily growth temperature (T) of each siteincreased only twofold from the Arctic to the tropics, despite a 20 degrees C increase in growing T (8-28 degrees C). By contrast, R-dark at a standard T (25 degrees C, R-dark(25)) was threefold higher in the Arctic than in the tropics, and twofold higher at arid than at mesic sites. Species and PFTs at cold sites exhibited higher R-dark(25) at a given photosynthetic capacity (V-cmax(25)) or leaf nitrogen concentration ([N]) than species at warmer sites. R-dark(25) values at any given V-cmax(25) or [N] were higher in herbs than in woody plants. The results highlight variation in R-dark among species and across global gradients in T and aridity. In addition to their ecological significance, the results provide a framework for improving representation of R-dark in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs) and associated land-surface components of Earth system models (ESMs).
310 citations
University of Western Sydney1, Hobart Corporation2, Colorado State University3, United States Forest Service4, Los Alamos National Laboratory5, Institut national de la recherche agronomique6, University of Alberta7, Blaise Pascal University8, Princeton University9, Australian National University10, University of Tasmania11, Central Science Laboratory12, Hebrew University of Jerusalem13, Oregon State University14, Max Planck Society15, University of Basel16, University of Montana17, Hokkaido University18, Autonomous University of Barcelona19, Spanish National Research Council20, University of British Columbia21, University of Bordeaux22, Polytechnic University of Valencia23, Estonian University of Life Sciences24, University of Vienna25, Wageningen University and Research Centre26, University of Western Ontario27, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology28, Duke University29, University of Peradeniya30, University of Gothenburg31
TL;DR: It is shown that NSC estimates for woody plant tissues cannot be compared among laboratories, and users can either adopt the reference method given in this publication, or report estimates for a portion of samples using thereference method, and report estimates to a standard reference material.
Abstract: Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in plant tissue are frequently quantified to make inferences about plant responses to environmental conditions. Laboratories publishing estimates of NSC of woody plants use many different methods to evaluate NSC. We asked whether NSC estimates in the recent literature could be quantitatively compared among studies. We also asked whether any differences among laboratories were related to the extraction and quantification methods used to determine starch and sugar concentrations. These questions were addressed by sending sub-samples collected from five woody plant tissues, which varied in NSC content and chemical composition, to 29 laboratories. Each laboratory analyzed the samples with their laboratory-specific protocols, based on recent publications, to determine concentrations of soluble sugars, starch and their sum, total NSC. Laboratory estimates differed substantially for all samples. For example, estimates for Eucalyptus globulus leaves (EGL) varied from 23 to 116 (mean = 56) mg g(-1) for soluble sugars, 6-533 (mean = 94) mg g-1 for starch and 53-649 (mean = 153) mg g-1 for total NSC. Mixed model analysis of variance showed that much of the variability among laboratories was unrelated to the categories we used for extraction and quantification methods (method category R-2 = 0.05-0.12 for soluble sugars, 0.10-0.33 for starch and 0.01-0.09 for total NSC). For EGL, the difference between the highest and lowest least squares means for categories in the mixed model analysis was 33 mg g-1 for total NSC, compared with the range of laboratory estimates of 596 mg g-1. Laboratories were reasonably consistent in their ranks of estimates among tissues for starch (r = 0.41-0.91), but less so for total NSC (r = 0.45-0.84) and soluble sugars (r = 0.11-0.83). Our results show that NSC estimates for woody plant tissues cannot be compared among laboratories. The relative changes in NSC between treatments measured within a laboratory may be comparable within and between laboratories, especially for starch. To obtain comparable NSC estimates, we suggest that users can either adopt the reference method given in this publication, or report estimates for a portion of samples using the reference method, and report estimates for a standard reference material. Researchers interested in NSC estimates should work to identify and adopt standard methods.
187 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the potential alternatives to replace nitrite salts that are used completely or partially in the manufacturing of meat products are reviewed, and a comparison of the potential solutions is presented.
Abstract: Nitrite has been used in different meat products mainly to maintain their microbial quality, flavor, and color and to prevent lipid oxidation. Since consumer demand for organic or natural meat products has increased due to the concerns of health risk of synthetic additives, the meat industry is currently focusing on the development of nitrite alternatives. This paper reviews the potential alternatives to replace nitrite salts that are used completely or partially in the manufacturing of meat products.
TL;DR: This work investigates the dependence of the ergodic capacity and the outage probability of the information transmission to the receiver on the amount of energy transferred to the RF energy harvesters, and proposes a relay selection policy that yields the optimal tradeoff in a maximum capacity/minimum outage probability sense.
Abstract: In certain applications, relay terminals can be employed to simultaneously deliver information and energy to a designated receiver and a set of radio frequency (RF) energy harvesters, respectively. In such scenarios, the relay that is preferable for information transmission does not necessarily coincide with the relay that is preferable for energy transfer, since the corresponding channels fade independently. Relay selection thus entails a tradeoff between the efficiency of the information transmission to the receiver and the amount of energy transferred to the energy harvesters. The study of this tradeoff is the subject on which this work mainly focuses. Specifically, we investigate the dependence of the ergodic capacity and the outage probability of the information transmission to the receiver on the amount of energy transferred to the RF energy harvesters. We propose a relay selection policy that yields the optimal tradeoff in a maximum capacity/minimum outage probability sense, for a given energy transfer constraint. We also propose two suboptimal relay selection methods that apply to scenarios with limited availability of channel state information. Additionally, we propose a suboptimal scheme which approximates the optimal scheme for the special case of two relays and facilitates performance analysis. Interesting insights on the aforementioned tradeoffs are unveiled.
TL;DR: The results show that the implementation of multiple antennas increases the energy harvesting capability, hence, significantly improves the systems performance.
Abstract: In this paper, an energy harvesting dual-hop relaying system without/with the presence of co-channel interference (CCI) is investigated. Specifically, the energy constrained multi-antenna relay node is powered by either the information signal of the source or via the signal receiving from both the source and interferer. In particular, we first study the outage probability and ergodic capacity of an interference free system, and then extend the analysis to an interfering environment. To exploit the benefit of multiple antennas, three different linear processing schemes are investigated, namely, 1) Maximum ratio combining/maximum ratio transmission (MRC/MRT), 2) Zero-forcing/MRT (ZF/MRT) and 3) Minimum mean-square error/MRT (MMSE/MRT). For all schemes, both the systems outage probability and ergodic capacity are studied, and the achievable diversity order is also presented. In addition, the optimal power splitting ratio minimizing the outage probability is characterized. Our results show that the implementation of multiple antennas increases the energy harvesting capability, hence, significantly improves the systems performance. Moreover, it is demonstrated that the CCI could be potentially exploited to substantially boost the performance, while the choice of a linear processing scheme plays a critical role in determining how much gain could be extracted from the CCI.
TL;DR: In this article, the potential of biochar (BC), a waste byproduct of bioenergy industry in Sri Lanka, as a soil amendment to immobilize Ni, Cr, and Mn in serpentine soil and minimize their phytotoxicity was investigated.
Abstract: Serpentine soils derived from ultramafic rocks release elevated concentrations of toxic heavy metals into the environment. Hence, crop plants cultivated in or adjacent to serpentine soil may experience reduced growth due to phytotoxicity as well as accumulate toxic heavy metals in edible tissues. We investigated the potential of biochar (BC), a waste byproduct of bioenergy industry in Sri Lanka, as a soil amendment to immobilize Ni, Cr, and Mn in serpentine soil and minimize their phytotoxicity. The BC used in this study was a waste byproduct obtained from a Dendro bioenergy industry in Sri Lanka. This BC was produced by pyrolyzing Gliricidia sepium biomass at 900 °C in a closed reactor. A pot experiment was conducted using tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) by adding 1, 2.5, and 5 % (w/w) BC applications to evaluate the bioavailability and uptake of metals in serpentine soil. Sequential extractions were utilized to evaluate the effects of BC on bioavailable concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Mn as well as different metal fractionations in BC-amended and BC-unamended soil. Postharvest soil in each pot was subjected to a microbial analysis to evaluate the total bacterial and fungal count in BC-amended and BC-unamended serpentine soil. Tomato plants grown in 5 % BC-amended soil showed approximately 40-fold higher biomass than that of BC-unamended soil, whereas highly favorable microbial growth was observed in the 2.5 % BC-amended soil. Bioaccumulation of Cr, Ni, and Mn decreased by 93–97 % in tomato plants grown in 5 % BC-amended soil compared to the BC-unamended soil. Sequentially extracted metals in the exchangeable fraction revealed that the bioavailabile concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Mn decreased by 99, 61, and 42 %, respectively, in the 5 % BC-amended soil. Results suggested that the addition of BC to serpentine soil as a soil amendment immobilizes Cr, Ni, and Mn in serpentine soil and reduces metal-induced toxicities in tomato plants.
TL;DR: Cinnamon has the potential to be a useful add-on therapy in the discipline of integrative medicine in managing type 2 diabetes, but at present the evidence is inconclusive and long-term trials aiming to establish the efficacy and safety of cinnamon is needed.
Abstract: Cinnamon is currently marketed as a remedy for obesity, glucose intolerance, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidaemia. Integrative medicine is a new concept that combines conventional treatment with evidence-based complementary therapies. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the experimental evidence available for cinnamon in improving glycaemic targets in animal models and humans. Insulin receptor auto-phosphorlylation and de-phosphorylation, glucose transporter 4 (GLUT-4 ) receptor synthesis and translocation, modulation of hepatic glucose metabolism through changes in Pyruvate kinase (PK) and Phosphenol Pyruvate Carboxikinase (PEPCK), altering the expression of PPAR (γ) and inhibition of intestinal glucosidases are some of the mechanisms responsible for improving glycaemic control with cinnamon therapy. We reviewed 8 clinical trials that used Cinnamomum cassia in aqueous or powder form in doses ranging from 500 mg to 6 g per day for a duration lasting from 40 days to 4 months as well as 2 clinical trials that used cinnamon on treatment naive patients with pre-diabetes. An improvement in glycaemic control was seen in patients who received Cinnamon as the sole therapy for diabetes, those with pre-diabetes (IFG or IGT) and in those with high pre-treatment HbA1c. In animal models, cinnamon reduced fasting and postprandial plasma glucose and HbA1c. Cinnamon has the potential to be a useful add-on therapy in the discipline of integrative medicine in managing type 2 diabetes. At present the evidence is inconclusive and long-term trials aiming to establish the efficacy and safety of cinnamon is needed. However, high coumarin content of Cinnamomum cassia is a concern, but Cinnamomum zeylanicum with its low coumarin content would be a safer alternate.
TL;DR: The present review highlights the practice, applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000 and shows removal of biochemical oxygen demand and total suspended solid was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of Treatment wetlands.
Abstract: Constructed wetlands (CWs) have been successfully used for treating various wastewaters for decades and have been identified as a sustainable wastewater management option for developing countries. With the goal of promoting sustainable engineered systems that support human well-being but are also compatible with sustaining natural (environmental) systems, the application of CWs has become more relevant. Such application is especially significant for developing countries with tropical climates, which are very conducive to higher biological activity and productivity, resulting in higher treatment efficiencies compared to those in temperate climates. This paper therefore highlights the practice, applications, and research of treatment wetlands under tropical and subtropical conditions since 2000. In the present review, removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solid (TSS) was shown to be very efficient and consistent across all types of treatment wetlands. Hybrid systems appeared more efficient in the removal of total suspended solid (TSS) (91.3%), chemical oxygen demand (COD) (84.3%), and nitrogen (i.e., 80.7% for ammonium (NH)4-N, 80.8% for nitrate (NO)3-N, and 75.4% for total nitrogen (TN)) as compared to other wetland systems. Vertical subsurface flow (VSSF) CWs removed TSS (84.9%), BOD (87.6%), and nitrogen (i.e., 66.2% for NH4-N, 73.3% for NO3-N, and 53.3% for TN) more efficiently than horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs, while HSSF CWs (69.8%) showed better total phosphorus (TP) removal compared to VSSF CWs (60.1%). Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) showed comparable removal efficiencies for BOD (70.7%), NH4-N (63.6%), and TP (44.8%) to free water surface (FWS) CW systems.
TL;DR: It can be concluded that NaOH-modified breadfruit skin has great potential to be utilized in real-life application as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of MG in wastewater treatment.
Abstract: Breadnut skin, in both its unmodified (KS) and base-modified (BM-KS) forms, was investigated for its potential use as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of toxic dye, malachite green (MG). Characterization of the adsorbents was carried out using scanning electron microscope, X-ray fluorescence and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy. Batch adsorption experiments, carried out under optimized conditions, for the adsorption of MG were fitted using five isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Temkin and Sips) and six error functions to determine the best-fit model. The adsorption capacity was greatly enhanced when breadnut skin was chemically modified with NaOH, leading to an adsorption capacity of 353.0 mg g−1, that was far superior to most reported adsorbents for the removal of MG. Thermodynamics studies indicated that the adsorption of MG was spontaneous on KS and BM-KS, and the reactions were endothermic and exothermic, respectively. Kinetics studies showed that both followed t...
Duke University1, National Institutes of Health2, University of Manchester3, University of Peradeniya4, Baylor College of Medicine5, University of Michigan6, Children's Mercy Hospital7, Wake Forest University8, Rush University Medical Center9, Vanderbilt University10, University of Iowa11, University of Minnesota12, Royal Melbourne Hospital13, Saint Louis University14, Cleveland Clinic15, Boston Children's Hospital16, Spectrum Health17, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust18, Nationwide Children's Hospital19
TL;DR: The finding of a MHC class II locus underlying SSNS risk suggests a major role for immune response in the pathogenesis of SSNS.
Abstract: Steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) accounts for >80% of cases of nephrotic syndrome in childhood. However, the etiology and pathogenesis of SSNS remain obscure. Hypothesizing that coding variation may underlie SSNS risk, we conducted an exome array association study of SSNS. We enrolled a discovery set of 363 persons (214 South Asian children with SSNS and 149 controls) and genotyped them using the Illumina HumanExome Beadchip. Four common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1 (rs1129740, rs9273349, rs1071630, and rs1140343) were significantly associated with SSNS at or near the Bonferroni-adjusted P value for the number of single variants that were tested (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.56 to 2.86; P=1.68×10(-6) (Fisher exact test). Two of these SNPs-the missense variants C34Y (rs1129740) and F41S (rs1071630) in HLA-DQA1-were replicated in an independent cohort of children of white European ancestry with SSNS (100 cases and ≤589 controls; P=1.42×10(-17)). In the rare variant gene set-based analysis, the best signal was found in PLCG2 (P=7.825×10(-5)). In conclusion, this exome array study identified HLA-DQA1 and PLCG2 missense coding variants as candidate loci for SSNS. The finding of a MHC class II locus underlying SSNS risk suggests a major role for immune response in the pathogenesis of SSNS.
TL;DR: Challenges in remediation and bioavailability assessments of Pb in urban soils in the context of lower SSLs are discussed and research needs to better address those challenges are identified.
Abstract: Recently the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lowered the blood Pb reference value to 5 μg/dL The lower reference value combined with increased repurposing of postindustrial lands are heightening concerns and driving interest in reducing soil Pb exposures As a result, regulatory decision makers may lower residential soil screening levels (SSLs), used in setting Pb cleanup levels, to levels that may be difficult to achieve, especially in urban areas This paper discusses challenges in remediation and bioavailability assessments of Pb in urban soils in the context of lower SSLs and identifies research needs to better address those challenges Although in situ remediation with phosphate amendments is a viable option, the scope of the problem and conditions in urban settings may necessitate that SSLs be based on bioavailable rather than total Pb concentrations However, variability in soil composition can influence bioavailability testing and soil amendment effectiveness More data are urgently ne
TL;DR: These workshops supported the teachers in recognising the educational potential of mobile phones, in learning how to use them in science teaching and learning, in changing their attitudes towards the use of mobile phone in teaching and in sharing knowledge and skills relating to mobile phone applications in science teach and learning.
Abstract: This paper presents the development and implementation of a professional development workshop series on integrating mobile phones into science teaching for a group of teachers in Sri Lanka. The series comprised a 3-day Planning Workshop followed by implementation of the planned lessons in real classrooms and a subsequent 1-day Reviewing Workshop. During the Planning Workshop, teachers were provided with a hands-on-session on the use of mobile phones in science teaching followed by collaborative lesson planning activities. The methodological approach taken to evaluating the initiative was qualitative, and data were collected using observations and fieldnotes. The data were analysed using thematic analysis techniques with the support of NVivo8 (QSR International Pty Ltd., Victoria, Australia) qualitative data analysis software. It was found that as professional development for teachers was provided separately as Planning and Reviewing Workshops, these workshops supported the teachers in recognising the educational potential of mobile phones, in learning how to use them in science teaching and learning, in changing their attitudes towards the use of mobile phones in teaching and in sharing knowledge and skills relating to mobile phone applications in science teaching and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
TL;DR: In this paper, Drumstick leaves were evaluated for antioxidative capacity and antimicrobial activity when incorporated in chicken sausages and two control samples without Moringa oleifera leaves (one with added artificial antioxidant and other without any antioxidant).
Abstract: Drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaves were evaluated for antioxidative capacity and antimicrobial activity when incorporated in chicken sausages. Different concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%) of M. oleifera leaves (MOL) incorporated sausages and two controls without MOL (one with added artificial antioxidant and other without any antioxidant) were prepared. TBARS value, pH, microbial analysis, sensory panel scores and instrumental color were assessed. Sausages with 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% MOL showed significantly lower (p < 0.05) TBARS value compared to 0.25% MOL and the two control samples. Sausages with 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% MOL showed significantly (p < 0.05) low pH values from the 2nd week to the 5th week of storage and significantly (p < 0.05) low Total Plate Count throughout the storage period, compared to 0.25% MOL and the two control samples. The sensory panel did not detect any difference in any sensory attribute in chicken sausages with 0.25% and 0.5% MOL compared to the controls. The study identifies the significant antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Drumstick leaves in chicken sausages.
Christopher J L Murray1, Ryan M Barber, Kyle J Foreman2, Ayse Abbasoglu Ozgoren +608 more•Institutions (251)
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) aims to bring together all available epidemiological data using a coherent measurement framework, standardised estimation methods, and transparent data sources to enable comparisons of health loss over time and across causes, age-sex groups, and countries as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Background
The Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) aims to bring together all available epidemiological data using a coherent measurement framework, standardised estimation methods, and transparent data sources to enable comparisons of health loss over time and across causes, age–sex groups, and countries. The GBD can be used to generate summary measures such as disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and healthy life expectancy (HALE) that make possible comparative assessments of broad epidemiological patterns across countries and time. These summary measures can also be used to quantify the component of variation in epidemiology that is related to sociodemographic development.
Methods
We used the published GBD 2013 data for age-specific mortality, years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) to calculate DALYs and HALE for 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2013 for 188 countries. We calculated HALE using the Sullivan method; 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) represent uncertainty in age-specific death rates and YLDs per person for each country, age, sex, and year. We estimated DALYs for 306 causes for each country as the sum of YLLs and YLDs; 95% UIs represent uncertainty in YLL and YLD rates. We quantified patterns of the epidemiological transition with a composite indicator of sociodemographic status, which we constructed from income per person, average years of schooling after age 15 years, and the total fertility rate and mean age of the population. We applied hierarchical regression to DALY rates by cause across countries to decompose variance related to the sociodemographic status variable, country, and time.
Findings
Worldwide, from 1990 to 2013, life expectancy at birth rose by 6·2 years (95% UI 5·6–6·6), from 65·3 years (65·0–65·6) in 1990 to 71·5 years (71·0–71·9) in 2013, HALE at birth rose by 5·4 years (4·9–5·8), from 56·9 years (54·5–59·1) to 62·3 years (59·7–64·8), total DALYs fell by 3·6% (0·3–7·4), and age-standardised DALY rates per 100 000 people fell by 26·7% (24·6–29·1). For communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional disorders, global DALY numbers, crude rates, and age-standardised rates have all declined between 1990 and 2013, whereas for non–communicable diseases, global DALYs have been increasing, DALY rates have remained nearly constant, and age-standardised DALY rates declined during the same period. From 2005 to 2013, the number of DALYs increased for most specific non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms, in addition to dengue, food-borne trematodes, and leishmaniasis; DALYs decreased for nearly all other causes. By 2013, the five leading causes of DALYs were ischaemic heart disease, lower respiratory infections, cerebrovascular disease, low back and neck pain, and road injuries. Sociodemographic status explained more than 50% of the variance between countries and over time for diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, and other common infectious diseases; maternal disorders; neonatal disorders; nutritional deficiencies; other communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases; musculoskeletal disorders; and other non-communicable diseases. However, sociodemographic status explained less than 10% of the variance in DALY rates for cardiovascular diseases; chronic respiratory diseases; cirrhosis; diabetes, urogenital, blood, and endocrine diseases; unintentional injuries; and self-harm and interpersonal violence. Predictably, increased sociodemographic status was associated with a shift in burden from YLLs to YLDs, driven by declines in YLLs and increases in YLDs from musculoskeletal disorders, neurological disorders, and mental and substance use disorders. In most country-specific estimates, the increase in life expectancy was greater than that in HALE. Leading causes of DALYs are highly variable across countries.
Interpretation
Global health is improving. Population growth and ageing have driven up numbers of DALYs, but crude rates have remained relatively constant, showing that progress in health does not mean fewer demands on health systems. The notion of an epidemiological transition—in which increasing sociodemographic status brings structured change in disease burden—is useful, but there is tremendous variation in burden of disease that is not associated with sociodemographic status. This further underscores the need for country-specific assessments of DALYs and HALE to appropriately inform health policy decisions and attendant actions.
TL;DR: A relay network in which a source wishes to convey a confidential message to a legitimate destination with the assistance of trusted relays is considered, and cooperative beamforming and user selection techniques are applied to protect the confidential message.
Abstract: A relay network in which a source wishes to convey a confidential message to a legitimate destination with the assistance of trusted relays is considered. In particular, cooperative beamforming and user selection techniques are applied to protect the confidential message. The secrecy rate (SR) and secrecy outage probability (SOP) of the network are investigated first, and a tight upper bound for the SR and an exact formula for the SOP are derived. Next, asymptotic approximations for the SR and SOP in the high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime are derived for two different schemes: 1) cooperative beamforming and 2) multiuser selection. Furthermore, a new concept of cooperative diversity gain, namely, adapted cooperative diversity gain (ACDG), which can be used to evaluate the security level of a cooperative relaying network, is investigated. It is shown that the ACDG of cooperative beamforming is equal to the conventional cooperative diversity gain of traditional multiple-input single-output networks, while the ACDG of the multiuser scenario is equal to that of traditional single-input multiple-output networks.
TL;DR: It is shown that FD precoding at AP improves the UL/DL sum rate and hence a doubling of the performance of the HD mode is achievable, and that these impressive performance gains remain substantially intact even if the LI cancellation is imperfect.
Abstract: A full-duplex (FD) multiple antenna access point (AP) communicating with single antenna half-duplex (HD) spatially random users to support simultaneous uplink (UL)/downlink (DL) transmissions is investigated. Since FD nodes are inherently constrained by the loopback interference (LI), we study precoding schemes for the AP based on maximum ratio combining (MRC)/maximal ratio transmission (MRT), zero-forcing, and the optimal scheme for UL and DL sum rate maximization using tools from stochastic geometry. In order to shed insights into the systems performance, simple expressions for single antenna/perfect LI cancellation/negligible internode interference cases are also presented. We show that FD precoding at AP improves the UL/DL sum rate and hence a doubling of the performance of the HD mode is achievable. In particular, our results show that these impressive performance gains remain substantially intact even if the LI cancellation is imperfect. Furthermore, relative performance gap between FD and HD modes increases as the number of transmit/receive antennas becomes large, while with the MRC/MRT scheme, increasing the receive antenna number at FD AP, is more beneficial in terms of sum rate than increasing the transmit antenna number.
TL;DR: In this paper, a curve fitting of adsorption equilibrium data obtained under optimized conditions, followed by error analysis, for different isotherms, namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Redlich-Peterson, and Sips, demonstrates that the Sips models show the best agreement with maximum biosorption capacities (q max) of 145.8 and 150.1 µg−1, respectively, which are superior to most reported biosorbents.
Abstract: Artocarpus altilis (Breadfruit) skin shows great potential as an effective low-cost biosorbent for the removal of toxic crystal violet (CV) dye. Curve fitting of adsorption equilibrium data obtained under optimized conditions, followed by error analysis, for different isotherms, namely Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich, Redlich–Peterson, and Sips, demonstrates that the Langmuir and the Sips adsorption isotherm models show the best agreement with maximum biosorption capacities (q
max) of 145.8 and 150.1 mg g−1, respectively, which are superior to most reported biosorbents. Breadfruit skin, whose point of zero charge is at pH 4.7, characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infra red (FTIR) spectroscopy before and after treatment of CV provides further support for adsorption. Thermodynamic studies indicate that the adsorption of CV by BS was both spontaneous and endothermic, while kinetics studies show that the sorption of CV on BS follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics with a contribution from intraparticle diffusion.
TL;DR: In this paper, the capability of smart appliances to act as operating reserves for the system operator is investigated and a novel framework is introduced which enables system operators to access demand response from smart appliances in a timeframe suitable for operating reserves.
TL;DR: Prevalence of chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology was highest among males, rice farming communities, and those presenting at later disease stages, and low prevalence of CKDU was noticed among those who consumed water from natural springs.
TL;DR: It is shown that EPA ameliorates HF-diet effects at least in part by increasing oxygen consumption and fatty acid oxidation and reducing adipocyte size, adipogenesis, and adipose tissue inflammation, independent of obesity.
Abstract: Background: Obesity is associated with an overexpansion of adipose tissue, along with increases in blood pressure, glycemia, inflammation, and thrombosis. Research to develop nutritional interventions to prevent or treat obesity and its associated diseases is greatly needed. Previously, we demonstrated the ability of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to prevent high-fat (HF) diet‐induced obesity, insulin resistance, and inflammation in mice. Objective: The objective of the current study was to determine the mechanisms mediating the anti-inflammatory and antilipogenic actions of EPA. Methods: In a previous study, male C57BL/6J mice were fed a low-fat diet (10% of energy from fat), an HF diet (45% of energy from fat), or an HF diet supplemented with EPA (45% of energy from fat; 36 g/kg EPA; HF+EPA) for 11 wk or an HF diet for 6 wk and then switched to the HF+EPA diet for 5 wk. In this study, we used histology/immunohistochemistry, gene expression, and metabolomic analyses of white adipose tissue from these mice. In addition, cultured mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100 mM EPA for 48 h and then used for extracellular flux assays with untreated 3T3-L1 adipocytes used as a control. Results: Compared with the HF diet, the HF+EPA diet significantly reduced body weight, adiposity, adipocyte size, and macrophage infiltration into adipose tissue. No significant differences in overall body weight or fat pad weights were observed between HF-fed mice vs. those fed the HF+EPA diet for a short time after first inducing obesity with the HF diet. Interestingly, both histology and immunohistochemistry results showed a significantly lower mean adipocyte size and macrophage infiltration in mice fed the HF diet and then switched to the HF+EPA diet vs. those fed HF diets only. This indicated that EPA was able to prevent as well as reverse HFdiet‐induced adipocyte inflammation and hypertrophy and that some of the metabolic effects of EPA were independent of body weight or adiposity. In addition, adipose tissue metabolomic data and cultured adipocyte extracellular flux bioenergetic assays indicated that EPA also regulated mitochondrial function by increasing fatty acid oxidation and oxygen consumption, respectively. Conclusion: With the use of mice and cultured adipocytes, we showed that EPA ameliorates HF-diet effects at least in part by increasing oxygen consumption and fatty acid oxidation and reducing adipocyte size, adipogenesis, and adipose tissue inflammation, independent of obesity. J Nutr doi: 10.3945/jn.114.202952.
TL;DR: First-contact physicians should receive further training on effective thrombolysis, and there is an urgent need to explore the ways in which PCI and post-infarction interventions can be incorporated into treatment protocols.
Abstract: Sri Lanka is a developing country with a high rate of cardiovascular mortality. It is still largely dependent on thrombolysis for primary management of acute myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to present current data on the presentation, management, and outcomes of acute ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) at a tertiary-care hospital in Sri Lanka.
TL;DR: In this article, surface modified magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by destructuring of this ore using a top-down approach in the presence of oleic acid and were further dispersed in ethanol resulting in stable nanomagnetite dispersion.
Abstract: This study attempts to synthesize magnetite nanoparticles from a high purity natural iron oxide ore found in Panvila, Sri Lanka, following a novel top-down approach. Powder X-Ray diffraction, elemental analysis, and chemical analysis data confirmed the ore to be exclusively magnetite with Fe2+: Fe3+ ratio of 1 : 2. Surface modified magnetite nanoparticles were synthesized by destructuring of this ore using a top-down approach in the presence of oleic acid. These oleic acid coated nanoparticles were further dispersed in ethanol resulting in stable nanomagnetite dispersion. Interestingly, the nanoparticles demonstrated a spherical morphology with a particle size ranging from 20 to 50 nm. Magnetic force microscopic data was used to confirm the topography of the nanoparticles and to study the magnetic domain structure.