Showing papers by "University of Peradeniya published in 2017"
Theo Vos1, Amanuel Alemu Abajobir, Kalkidan Hassen Abate2, Cristiana Abbafati3 +775 more•Institutions (305)
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 328 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016.
10,401 citations
Ashkan Afshin, Mohammad H. Forouzanfar, Marissa B Reitsma, Patrick J Sur +164 more•Institutions (70)
TL;DR: The rapid increase in the prevalence and disease burden of elevated BMI highlights the need for continued focus on surveillance of BMI and identification, implementation, and evaluation of evidence‐based interventions to address this problem.
Abstract: BACKGROUND Although the rising pandemic of obesity has received major attention in many countries, the effects of this attention on trends and the disease burden of obesity remain uncertain. METHOD ...
4,519 citations
Valery L. Feigin1, Amanuel Alemu Abajobir2, Kalkidan Hassen Abate3, Foad Abd-Allah4 +267 more•Institutions (138)
TL;DR: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) study provides such information but does not routinely aggregate results that are of interest to clinicians specialising in neurological conditions as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Summary Background Comparable data on the global and country-specific burden of neurological disorders and their trends are crucial for health-care planning and resource allocation. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study provides such information but does not routinely aggregate results that are of interest to clinicians specialising in neurological conditions. In this systematic analysis, we quantified the global disease burden due to neurological disorders in 2015 and its relationship with country development level. Methods We estimated global and country-specific prevalence, mortality, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), years of life lost (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) for various neurological disorders that in the GBD classification have been previously spread across multiple disease groupings. The more inclusive grouping of neurological disorders included stroke, meningitis, encephalitis, tetanus, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, motor neuron disease, migraine, tension-type headache, medication overuse headache, brain and nervous system cancers, and a residual category of other neurological disorders. We also analysed results based on the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a compound measure of income per capita, education, and fertility, to identify patterns associated with development and how countries fare against expected outcomes relative to their level of development. Findings Neurological disorders ranked as the leading cause group of DALYs in 2015 (250·7 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 229·1 to 274·7] million, comprising 10·2% of global DALYs) and the second-leading cause group of deaths (9·4 [9·1 to 9·7] million], comprising 16·8% of global deaths). The most prevalent neurological disorders were tension-type headache (1505·9 [UI 1337·3 to 1681·6 million cases]), migraine (958·8 [872·1 to 1055·6] million), medication overuse headache (58·5 [50·8 to 67·4 million]), and Alzheimer's disease and other dementias (46·0 [40·2 to 52·7 million]). Between 1990 and 2015, the number of deaths from neurological disorders increased by 36·7%, and the number of DALYs by 7·4%. These increases occurred despite decreases in age-standardised rates of death and DALYs of 26·1% and 29·7%, respectively; stroke and communicable neurological disorders were responsible for most of these decreases. Communicable neurological disorders were the largest cause of DALYs in countries with low SDI. Stroke rates were highest at middle levels of SDI and lowest at the highest SDI. Most of the changes in DALY rates of neurological disorders with development were driven by changes in YLLs. Interpretation Neurological disorders are an important cause of disability and death worldwide. Globally, the burden of neurological disorders has increased substantially over the past 25 years because of expanding population numbers and ageing, despite substantial decreases in mortality rates from stroke and communicable neurological disorders. The number of patients who will need care by clinicians with expertise in neurological conditions will continue to grow in coming decades. Policy makers and health-care providers should be aware of these trends to provide adequate services. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
2,995 citations
Gregory A. Roth1, Catherine O. Johnson1, Amanuel Alemu Abajobir2, Foad Abd-Allah3 +170 more•Institutions (99)
TL;DR: The GBD (Global Burden of Disease) 2015 study integrated data on disease incidence, prevalence, and mortality to produce consistent, up-to-date estimates for cardiovascular burden, finding that CVDs remain a major cause of health loss for all regions of the world.
2,525 citations
Spanish National Research Council1, Autonomous University of Madrid2, University of Queensland3, Jimma University4, United Arab Emirates University5, University of Cartagena6, University of Qom7, Mekelle University8, University of Belgrade9, Stanford University10, University of São Paulo11, Debre Berhan University12, Haramaya University13, Bahir Dar University14, Debre markos University15, State University of New York System16, University System of Georgia17, Christian Medical College & Hospital18, University of Peradeniya19, Bielefeld University20, Newcastle University21, University of Newcastle22, Howard University23, University of Delhi24, University of Mazandaran25, Yokohama City University26, Juntendo University27, Albert Einstein College of Medicine28
TL;DR: The GBD study provides annual updates on estimates of deaths, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), a summary measure of fatal and non-fatal disease outcomes, for over 300 diseases and injuries, for 188 countries from 1990 to the most recent year.
1,601 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors use the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) to improve and expand the quantification of personal health-care access and quality for 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2015.
427 citations
TL;DR: This work focuses on the synthesis of environmentally benign nanoparticles carrying urea as the crop nutrient that can be released in a programmed manner for use as a nanofertilizer.
Abstract: While slow release of chemicals has been widely applied for drug delivery, little work has been done on using this general nanotechnology-based principle for delivering nutrients to crops. In developing countries, the cost of fertilizers can be significant and is often the limiting factor for food supply. Thus, it is important to develop technologies that minimize the cost of fertilizers through efficient and targeted delivery. Urea is a rich source of nitrogen and therefore a commonly used fertilizer. We focus our work on the synthesis of environmentally benign nanoparticles carrying urea as the crop nutrient that can be released in a programmed manner for use as a nanofertilizer. In this study, the high solubility of urea molecules has been reduced by incorporating it into a matrix of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles. Hydroxyapatite nanoparticles have been selected due to their excellent biocompatibility while acting as a rich phosphorus source. In addition, the high surface area offered by nanoparticles al...
321 citations
Washington University in St. Louis1, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute2, United States Geological Survey3, Thailand National Science and Technology Development Agency4, Mahidol University5, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation6, Tunghai University7, University of Buea8, Indiana University9, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute10, United States Department of Agriculture11, National Museum of Natural History12, Utah State University13, University of Peradeniya14, Sun Yat-sen University15, University of Alberta16, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay17, University of California, Los Angeles18, National Taiwan University19, Los Alamos National Laboratory20, University of Montana21, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center22, Centre national de la recherche scientifique23, Sewanee: The University of the South24, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic25, University of the Philippines Diliman26, Harvard University27, University of Hawaii at Hilo28, National Dong Hwa University29, Missouri Botanical Garden30, Washington State University Vancouver31, University of Minnesota32, Far Eastern University33
TL;DR: Global patterns in tree species diversity reflect not only stronger CNDD at tropical versus temperate latitudes but also a latitudinal shift in the relationship between CNDd and species abundance.
Abstract: Theory predicts that higher biodiversity in the tropics is maintained by specialized interactions among plants and their natural enemies that result in conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD). By using more than 3000 species and nearly 2.4 million trees across 24 forest plots worldwide, we show that global patterns in tree species diversity reflect not only stronger CNDD at tropical versus temperate latitudes but also a latitudinal shift in the relationship between CNDD and species abundance. CNDD was stronger for rare species at tropical versus temperate latitudes, potentially causing the persistence of greater numbers of rare species in the tropics. Our study reveals fundamental differences in the nature of local-scale biotic interactions that contribute to the maintenance of species diversity across temperate and tropical communities.
199 citations
TL;DR: It is found that species in mid-latitude regions have the narrowest thermal safety margins in upper canopy leaves; these regions are at the greatest risk of damage due to extreme heat-wave events, especially under conditions when leaf temperatures are further elevated by a lack of transpirational cooling.
Abstract: High-temperature tolerance in plants is important in a warming world, with extreme heat waves predicted to increase in frequency and duration, potentially leading to lethal heating of leaves. Global patterns of high-temperature tolerance are documented in animals, but generally not in plants, limiting our ability to assess risks associated with climate warming. To assess whether there are global patterns in high-temperature tolerance of leaf metabolism, we quantified Tcrit (high temperature where minimal chlorophyll a fluorescence rises rapidly and thus photosystem II is disrupted) and Tmax (temperature where leaf respiration in darkness is maximal, beyond which respiratory function rapidly declines) in upper canopy leaves of 218 plant species spanning seven biomes. Mean site-based Tcrit values ranged from 41.5 °C in the Alaskan arctic to 50.8 °C in lowland tropical rainforests of Peruvian Amazon. For Tmax, the equivalent values were 51.0 and 60.6 °C in the Arctic and Amazon, respectively. Tcrit and Tmax followed similar biogeographic patterns, increasing linearly (˜8 °C) from polar to equatorial regions. Such increases in high-temperature tolerance are much less than expected based on the 20 °C span in high-temperature extremes across the globe. Moreover, with only modest high-temperature tolerance despite high summer temperature extremes, species in mid-latitude (~20–50°) regions have the narrowest thermal safety margins in upper canopy leaves; these regions are at the greatest risk of damage due to extreme heat-wave events, especially under conditions when leaf temperatures are further elevated by a lack of transpirational cooling. Using predicted heat-wave events for 2050 and accounting for possible thermal acclimation of Tcrit and Tmax, we also found that these safety margins could shrink in a warmer world, as rising temperatures are likely to exceed thermal tolerance limits. Thus, increasing numbers of species in many biomes may be at risk as heat-wave events become more severe with climate change.
195 citations
University of Queensland1, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation2, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center3, Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute4, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council5, University of Peradeniya6, Indian Council of Agricultural Research7, Central Research Institute for Dryland Agriculture8, Nanjing Agricultural University9, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute10, International Rice Research Institute11, Rice University12, Chinese Academy of Sciences13, China Agricultural University14, Central Soil Salinity Research Institute15
TL;DR: The Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) as mentioned in this paper was used to simulate the performance of cropping systems in Asia from several perspectives: crop phenology, production, water use, soil dynamics (water and organic carbon) and crop CO 2 response, as well as its ability to simulate cropping sequences without resetting of soil variables.
172 citations
TL;DR: The scientific evidence for interactions and potential roles for oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in these target tissues which may mediate effects of RAS in metabolic diseases are reviewed.
University of Washington1, Harvard University2, University of California, San Francisco3, Virginia Tech4, Lund University5, Jimma University6, University of Sydney7, University of Mazandaran8, Tehran University of Medical Sciences9, University of the Philippines Manila10, Mekelle University11, University of Belgrade12, Haramaya University13, Wageningen University and Research Centre14, University of London15, Debre markos University16, Ohio State University17, Diego Portales University18, University of Ottawa19, Örebro University20, University of Peradeniya21, Universidade Federal de Sergipe22, Bielefeld University23, Academy of Medical Sciences, United Kingdom24, Addis Ababa University25, West Virginia University26, Hamdan bin Mohammed e-University27, Canterbury Christ Church University28, Curtin University29, University of Tartu30, University of Kragujevac31, University of Aberdeen32, Heidelberg University33, Seoul National University34, Ball State University35, Southern University College36, State University of New York System37, Mansoura University38, Aswan University39, Imperial College London40, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais41, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai42, University of Pittsburgh43, University of Porto44, Erasmus University Rotterdam45, Yonsei University46, Auckland University of Technology47, Brandeis University48, Alberto Hurtado University49, University of Bologna50, Nanjing University51, Kyoto University52, Jackson State University53, Wuhan University54
TL;DR: Health spending is associated with economic development but past trends and relationships suggest that spending will remain variable, and low in some low-resource settings, although for the poorest countries external support might remain essential.
TL;DR: A systematic review of the evidence of the effectiveness of pesticide regulation in reducing the incidence of pesticide suicides and overall suicides was carried out by as discussed by the authors, where the authors searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, and Embase for studies published between Jan 1, 1960, and Dec 31, 2016, which investigated the effect of national or regional bans, and sales or import restrictions, on the availability of one or more pesticides and incidence of suicide in different countries.
TL;DR: In this article, the potential use of peel of breadnut, Artocarpus camansi, as an effective low-cost biosorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB).
TL;DR: There are striking similarities between CKDu in Mesoamerica, Sri Lanka, India, Egypt, and Tunisia, and recognition of the similarities may reinforce the international drive to establish causality and to effect prevention.
TL;DR: Investigation of synergic effects of heavy metals, aluminium, arsenic, fluoride and hardness in drinking water on kidney tissues of mice suggests existing of a synergic effect especially among Cd, F and hardness of water which could lead to severe kidney damage in mice, even at maximum recommended levels.
Abstract: Despite WHO standards, waterborne diseases among the human being are rising alarmingly. It is known that the prolong exposure to contaminated water has major impact on public health. The effect of chemical contaminations in drinking water on human being is found to be chronic rather than acute and hence can be defined “consumption of contaminated drinking water could be a silent killer”. As the WHO recommended water quality standards are only for individual element and synergic effects of trace metals and anions have not been considered, investigation of synergic effects of trace metals and anions and their effect on human being is of prime important research. By an animal trial, we investigated the synergic effect(s) of heavy metals, aluminium, arsenic, fluoride and hardness in drinking water on kidney tissues of mice. Our investigation strongly suggests existing of a synergic effect especially among Cd, F and hardness of water which could lead to severe kidney damage in mice, even at WHO maximum recommended levels. Hence, the synergic effect(s) of trace metals, fluoride and hardness present in drinking water should be investigated meticulously when stipulating the water quality at WHO maximum recommended levels.
TL;DR: In this article, the impact of different land-uses (paddy, vegetable and un-cultivated) on the variability of soil properties at the catenary level was analyzed by computing cross-variograms and subsequent fitting of theoretical model.
Abstract: Detailed digital soil maps showing the spatial heterogeneity of soil properties consistent with the landscape are required for site-specific management of plant nutrients, land use planning and process-based environmental modeling. We characterized the short-scale spatial heterogeneity of soil properties in an Alfisol catena in a tropical landscape of Sri Lanka. The impact of different land-uses (paddy, vegetable and un-cultivated) was examined to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on the variability of soil properties at the catenary level. Conditioned Latin hypercube sampling was used to collect 58 geo-referenced topsoil samples (0–30 cm) from the study area. Soil samples were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon (OC), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and texture. The spatial correlation between soil properties was analyzed by computing cross-variograms and subsequent fitting of theoretical model. Spatial distribution maps were developed using ordinary kriging. The range of soil properties, pH: 4.3–7.9; EC: 0.01–0.18 dS m− 1; OC: 0.1–1.37%; CEC: 0.44–11.51 cmol (+) kg− 1; clay: 1.5–25% and sand: 59.1–84.4% and their coefficient of variations indicated a large variability in the study area. Electrical conductivity and pH showed a strong spatial correlation which was reflected by the cross-variogram close to the hull of the perfect correlation. Moreover, cross-variograms calculated for EC and Clay, CEC and OC, CEC and clay and CEC and pH indicated weak positive spatial correlation between these properties. Relative nugget effect (RNE) calculated from variograms showed strongly structured spatial variability for pH, EC and sand content (RNE < 25%) while CEC, organic carbon and clay content showed moderately structured spatial variability (25% < RNE < 75%). Spatial dependencies for examined soil properties ranged from 48 to 984 m. The mixed effects model fitting followed by Tukey's post-hoc test showed significant effect of land use on the spatial variability of EC. Our study revealed a structured variability of topsoil properties in the selected tropical Alfisol catena. Except for EC, observed variability was not modified by the land uses. Investigated soil properties showed distinct spatial structures at different scales and magnitudes of strength. Our results will be useful for digital soil mapping, site specific management of soil properties, developing appropriate land use plans and quantifying anthropogenic impacts on the soil system.
Environmental Change Institute1, Carnegie Institution for Science2, Australian National University3, National University of Cordoba4, University of Arizona5, Santa Fe Institute6, Wake Forest University7, University of Leeds8, University of Edinburgh9, Autonomous University of Barcelona10, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco11, James Cook University12, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru13, University of Peradeniya14, University of Exeter15
TL;DR: A semi-mechanistic model uses a trait-spectra and individual-based model, to analyse variation in forest primary productivity along a 3.3 km elevation gradient in the Amazon-Andes, and suggests that spatial variation in traits can potentially be used to estimate spatial variations in productivity at the landscape scale.
Abstract: One of the major challenges in ecology is to understand how ecosystems respond to changes in environmental conditions, and how taxonomic and functional diversity mediate these changes. In this study, we use a trait-spectra and individual-based model, to analyse variation in forest primary productivity along a 3.3 km elevation gradient in the Amazon-Andes. The model accurately predicted the magnitude and trends in forest productivity with elevation, with solar radiation and plant functional traits (leaf dry mass per area, leaf nitrogen and phosphorus concentration, and wood density) collectively accounting for productivity variation. Remarkably, explicit representation of temperature variation with elevation was not required to achieve accurate predictions of forest productivity, as trait variation driven by species turnover appears to capture the effect of temperature. Our semi-mechanistic model suggests that spatial variation in traits can potentially be used to estimate spatial variation in productivity at the landscape scale.
TL;DR: The qualitative and quantitative differences between the microbial community profiles of cohorts of human volunteers from Sri Lanka with patent infection by one or more parasitic nematode species as well as that of uninfected subjects and of volunteers who had been subjected to regular prophylactic anthelmintic treatment are explored.
Abstract: Investigations of the impact that patent infections by soil-transmitted gastrointestinal nematode parasites exert on the composition of the host gut commensal flora are attracting growing interest by the scientific community. However, information collected to date varies across experiments, and further studies are needed to identify consistent relationships between parasites and commensal microbial species. Here, we explore the qualitative and quantitative differences between the microbial community profiles of cohorts of human volunteers from Sri Lanka with patent infection by one or more parasitic nematode species (H+), as well as that of uninfected subjects (H-) and of volunteers who had been subjected to regular prophylactic anthelmintic treatment (Ht). High-throughput sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene, followed by bioinformatics and biostatistical analyses of sequence data revealed no significant differences in alpha diversity (Shannon) and richness between groups (P = 0.65, P = 0.13 respectively); however, beta diversity was significantly increased in H+ and Ht when individually compared to H-volunteers (P = 0.04). Among others, bacteria of the families Verrucomicrobiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae showed a trend towards increased abundance in H+, whereas the Leuconostocaceae and Bacteroidaceae showed a relative increase in H- and Ht respectively. Our findings add valuable knowledge to the vast, and yet little explored, research field of parasite-microbiota interactions and will provide a basis for the elucidation of the role such interactions play in pathogenic and immune-modulatory properties of parasitic nematodes in both human and animal hosts.
Australian National University1, James Cook University2, University of Peradeniya3, University of Edinburgh4, Autonomous University of Barcelona5, Carnegie Institution for Science6, Imperial College London7, Environmental Change Institute8, University of Leeds9, Pontifical Catholic University of Peru10, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto11, National Institute of Amazonian Research12, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco13, Indian Institute of Astrophysics14, Michigan Technological University15
TL;DR: Results highlight the importance of soil- and leaf-P in defining the photosynthetic capacity of TMFs, with variations in N allocation and Rubisco activation state further influencing photosynthesis rates and N-use efficiency of these critically important forests.
Abstract: We examined whether variations in photosynthetic capacity are linked to variations in the environment and/or associated leaf traits for tropical moist forests (TMFs) in the Andes/western Amazon regions of Peru. We compared photosynthetic capacity (maximal rate of carboxylation of Rubisco (Vcmax ), and the maximum rate of electron transport (Jmax )), leaf mass, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) per unit leaf area (Ma , Na and Pa , respectively), and chlorophyll from 210 species at 18 field sites along a 3300-m elevation gradient. Western blots were used to quantify the abundance of the CO2 -fixing enzyme Rubisco. Area- and N-based rates of photosynthetic capacity at 25°C were higher in upland than lowland TMFs, underpinned by greater investment of N in photosynthesis in high-elevation trees. Soil [P] and leaf Pa were key explanatory factors for models of area-based Vcmax and Jmax but did not account for variations in photosynthetic N-use efficiency. At any given Na and Pa , the fraction of N allocated to photosynthesis was higher in upland than lowland species. For a small subset of lowland TMF trees examined, a substantial fraction of Rubisco was inactive. These results highlight the importance of soil- and leaf-P in defining the photosynthetic capacity of TMFs, with variations in N allocation and Rubisco activation state further influencing photosynthetic rates and N-use efficiency of these critically important forests.
TL;DR: A new model is proposed that accounts for the effect of Tgrowth -mediated declines in Vc Max25 on An, complementing current photosynthetic thermal acclimation models that do not account for T sensitivity of Vcmax25.
Abstract: Understanding of the extent of acclimation of light-saturated net photosynthesis (An) to temperature (T), and associated underlying mechanisms, remains limited. This is a key knowledge gap given the importance of thermal acclimation for plant functioning, both under current and future higher temperatures, limiting the accuracy and realism of Earth System Model (ESM) predictions. Given this, we analysed and modelled T-dependent changes in photosynthetic capacity in 10 wet-forest tree species; six from temperate forests and four from tropical forests. Temperate and tropical species were each acclimated to three daytime growth temperatures (Tgrowth): temperate - 15, 20 and 25°C; tropical - 25, 30 and 35°C. CO2 response curves of An were used to model maximal rates of RuBP (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate) carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) at each treatment's respective Tgrowth, and at a common measurement T (25°C). SDS-PAGE gels were used to determine abundance of the CO2-fixing enzyme, Rubisco. Leaf chlorophyll, nitrogen (N) and mass per unit leaf area (LMA) were also determined. For all species and Tgrowth, An at current atmospheric CO2 partial pressure was Rubisco-limited. Across all species, LMA decreased with increasing Tgrowth. Similarly, area-based rates of Vcmax at a measurement T of 25°C (Vcmax25) linearly declined with increasing Tgrowth, linked to a concomitant decline in total leaf protein per unit leaf area and Rubisco as a percentage of leaf N. The decline in Rubisco constrained Vcmax and An for leaves developed at higher Tgrowth and resulted in poor predictions of photosynthesis by currently widely used models that do not account for Tgrowth-mediated changes in Rubisco abundance that underpin the thermal acclimation response of photosynthesis in wet-forest tree species. A new model is proposed that accounts for the effect of Tgrowth-mediated declines in Vcmax25 on An, complementing current photosynthetic thermal acclimation models that do not account for T-sensitivity of Vcmax25.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
TL;DR: This study highlights the synergistic influence of fluoride and hardness that could enhance the disease, and thereby refute earlier theories that attribute trace elements as causative factors for CKDu.
University of Washington1, Iran University of Medical Sciences2, Norwegian Institute of Public Health3, University of Bergen4, Japan International Cooperation Agency5, Aswan University6, Lund University7, University of Sydney8, University of Melbourne9, University of Toronto10, University of Oxford11, Jordan University of Science and Technology12, Charité13, King Saud University14, Taipei Medical University15, Public Health Agency of Canada16, Pontifical Xavierian University17, University of California, Los Angeles18, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science19, University of São Paulo20, Monash University21, Walden University22, University of Peradeniya23, University of Lorraine24, Harvard University25, Karolinska Institutet26, Tehran University of Medical Sciences27, Bielefeld University28, West Virginia University29, Arabian Gulf University30, Hamdan bin Mohammed e-University31, Secretariat of the Pacific Community32, Tunis University33, Birzeit University34, University of Aberdeen35, Heidelberg University36, Health Services Academy37, Ball State University38, University of British Columbia39, University of Liverpool40, National Health Service41, Mansoura University42, Imperial College London43, McGill University44, Howard University45, Thomas Jefferson University46, Alfaisal University47, Ahmadu Bello University48, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh49, American University of Beirut50, Kyung Hee University51, Kosin University52, National Institutes of Health53, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health54, University of Edinburgh55, Northumbria University56, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina57, University of Alabama at Birmingham58, Stavanger University Hospital59, University of Virginia60, Cleveland Clinic61, Kyoto University62, Korea University63, Jackson State University64
TL;DR: This study shows a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders, with a faster increase in EMR compared with the rest of the world, and calls for incorporating prevention and control programmes that should include improving health data, addressing risk factors, providing evidence-based care and community programmes to increase awareness.
Abstract: Objectives We used findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 to report the burden of musculoskeletal disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Methods The burden of musculoskeletal disorders was calculated for the EMR's 22 countries between 1990 and 2013. A systematic analysis was performed on mortality and morbidity data to estimate prevalence, death, years of live lost, years lived with disability and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Results For musculoskeletal disorders, the crude DALYs rate per 100 000 increased from 1297.1 (95% uncertainty interval (UI) 924.3-1703.4) in 1990 to 1606.0 (95% UI 1141.2-2130.4) in 2013. During 1990-2013, the total DALYs of musculoskeletal disorders increased by 105.2% in the EMR compared with a 58.0% increase in the rest of the world. The burden of musculoskeletal disorders as a proportion of total DALYs increased from 2.4% (95% UI 1.7-3.0) in 1990 to 4.7% (95% UI 3.6-5.8) in 2013. The range of point prevalence (per 1000) among the EMR countries was 28.2-136.0 for low back pain, 27.3-49.7 for neck pain, 9.7-37.3 for osteoarthritis (OA), 0.6-2.2 for rheumatoid arthritis and 0.1-0.8 for gout. Low back pain and neck pain had the highest burden in EMR countries. Conclusions This study shows a high burden of musculoskeletal disorders, with a faster increase in EMR compared with the rest of the world. The reasons for this faster increase need to be explored. Our findings call for incorporating prevention and control programmes that should include improving health data, addressing risk factors, providing evidence-based care and community programmes to increase awareness.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors showed the successful and cost effective nature of the chemical oxidation, and the reduction processes for the production of GO and rGO out of natural vein graphite.
TL;DR: Maternal employment, high number of siblings, high birth orders and female children were significantly associated with undernutrition among preschool children, and living in small houses, large number of family members, low monthly income and maternal employment were significantlyassociated with under malnutrition among school children.
Abstract: Child malnutrition is a major public health concern worldwide, leading to higher morbidity and mortality. It is mostly preventable through public health and economic development. The aim of the present study was to determine socio-economic factors associated with nutritional status among children in plantation communities, Sri Lanka. A cross-sectional study was performed among preschool and school going children in three rural communities of Sri Lanka from January to August 2014. Demographic and household characteristics were documented and anthropometric measurements were collected to calculate weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and BMI-for-age (BAZ). Anthroplus, epiinfo and SPSS versions were used for the analysis of data. A total of 547 children (aged 1–15 years, mean 7.0 ± 3.6 years, 53% female) participated in the study. 35.6%, 26.9% and 32.9% of children were underweight, stunting and wasting respectively. Undernutrition was more common in primary school children. Maternal employment, high number of siblings, high birth orders and female children were significantly associated with undernutrition among preschool children. Living in small houses, large number of family members, low monthly income and maternal employment were significantly associated with undernutrition among school children. Child undernutrition is a major public health concern in the plantation sector, Sri Lanka. Health education programs among the study population could be effective for solving the problem.
TL;DR: In this article, a community-based, cluster-randomised controlled trial in a rural area of North Central Province, Sri Lanka was conducted to test the effectiveness of lockable household containers for prevention of pesticide self-poisoning.
TL;DR: In this paper, a polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based gel polymer electrolytes (GPE) was prepared using lithium iodide (LiI), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium iodide(BMII) and tetrapropyl ammonium ionide (TPAI) to enhance the solar cell performance.
TL;DR: The use of geographical information systems (GIS) to map and evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of dengue in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2014 and to elucidate the association of climatic factors with d Dengue incidence.
Abstract: Dengue is one of the major hurdles to the public health in Sri Lanka, causing high morbidity and mortality. The present study focuses on the use of geographical information systems (GIS) to map and evaluate the spatial and temporal distribution of dengue in Sri Lanka from 2009 to 2014 and to elucidate the association of climatic factors with dengue incidence. Epidemiological, population and meteorological data were collected from the Epidemiology Unit, Department of Census and Statistics and the Department of Meteorology of Sri Lanka. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Version 20, 2011) and R studio (2012) and the maps were generated using Arc GIS 10.2. The dengue incidence showed a significant positive correlation with rainfall (p<0.0001). No positive correlation was observed between dengue incidence and temperature (p = 0.107) or humidity (p = 0.084). Rainfall prior to 2 and 5 months and a rise in the temperature prior to 9 months positively correlated with dengue incidence as based on the auto-correlation values. A rise in humidity prior to 1 month had a mild positive correlation with dengue incidence. However, a rise in humidity prior to 9 months had a significant negative correlation with dengue incidence based on the auto-correlation values. Remote sensing and GIS technologies give near real time utility of climatic data together with the past dengue incidence for the prediction of dengue outbreaks. In that regard, GIS will be applicable in outbreak predictions including prompt identification of locations with dengue incidence and forecasting future risks and thus direct control measures to minimize major outbreaks.
TL;DR: A hybrid caching scheme is proposed that is jointly optimized with the transmission schemes to achieve a fine balance between the signal cooperation gain and the caching diversity gain.
Abstract: Traditional wireless multi-hop relaying systems suffer from inefficient use of bandwidth resources. This letter studies the use of content caching at distributed relays to tackle this problem and improve the performance of collaborative relaying. We propose a hybrid caching scheme that is jointly optimized with the transmission schemes to achieve a fine balance between the signal cooperation gain and the caching diversity gain. The optimization problem of cache placement to minimize the outage probability is studied and is shown to be convex. Numerical results demonstrate significant outage performance gains over traditional relaying without caching.