Institution
University of Peradeniya
Education•Kandy, Sri Lanka•
About: University of Peradeniya is a education organization based out in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 5970 authors who have published 7388 publications receiving 197002 citations.
Topics: Population, Poison control, Adsorption, Electrolyte, Agriculture
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: A novel subfamily of APs with a high content of cysteine residues and a characteristic insertion, named 'the nepenthesin-type AP-specific insertion', that includes a large number of novel, orthologous plant APs emerging in the gene/protein databases is proposed.
Abstract: Carnivorous plants are known to secrete acid proteinases to digest prey, mainly insects, for nitrogen uptake. In the present study, we have purified, for the first time, to homogeneity two acid proteinases (nepenthesins I and II) from the pitcher fluid of Nepenthes distillatoria (a pitcher-plant known locally as badura) and investigated their enzymic and structural characteristics. Both enzymes were optimally active at pH approx. 2.6 towards acid-denatured haemoglobin; the specificity of nepenthesin I towards oxidized insulin B chain appears to be similar, but slightly wider than those of other APs (aspartic proteinases). Among the enzymic properties, however, the most notable is their unusual stability: both enzymes were remarkably stable at or below 50 °C, especially nepenthesin I was extremely stable over a wide range of pH from 3 to 10 for over 30 days. This suggests an evolutionary adaptation of the enzymes to their specific habitat. We have also cloned the cDNAs and deduced the complete amino acid sequences of the precursors of nepenthesins I and II (437 and 438 residues respectively) from the pitcher tissue of N. gracilis. Although the corresponding mature enzymes (each 359 residues) are homologous with ordinary pepsin-type APs, both enzymes had a high content of cysteine residues (12 residues/molecule), which are assumed to form six unique disulphide bonds as suggested by computer modelling and are supposed to contribute towards the remarkable stability of nepenthesins. Moreover, the amino acid sequence identity of nepenthesins with ordinary APs, including plant vacuolar APs, is remarkably low (approx. 20%), and phylogenetic comparison shows that nepenthesins are distantly related to them to form a novel subfamily of APs with a high content of cysteine residues and a characteristic insertion, named ‘the nepenthesin-type AP-specific insertion’, that includes a large number of novel, orthologous plant APs emerging in the gene/protein databases.
126 citations
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TL;DR: Imidacloprid generally demonstrates low human lethality even in large ingestions, but Respiratory failure and reduced level of consciousness were the most serious complications, but these were uncommon.
Abstract: Background: Deliberate self-poisoning with older pesticides such as organophosphorus compounds are commonly fatal and a serious public health problem in the developing world. The clinical consequences of self-poisoning with newer pesticides are not well described. Such information may help to improve clinical management and inform pesticide regulators of their relative toxicity. This study reports the clinical outcomes and toxicokinetics of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid following acute self-poisoning in humans. Methodology/Principal Findings: Demographic and clinical data were prospectively recorded in patients with imidacloprid exposure in three hospitals in Sri Lanka. Blood samples were collected when possible for quantification of imidacloprid concentration. There were 68 patients (61 self-ingestions and 7 dermal exposures) with exposure to imidacloprid. Of the self-poisoning patients, the median time to presentation was 4 hours (IQR 2.3–6.0) and median amount ingested was 15 mL (IQR 10–50 mL). Most patients only developed mild symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, headache and diarrhoea. One patient developed respiratory failure needing mechanical ventilation while another was admitted to intensive care due to prolonged sedation. There were no deaths. Median admission imidacloprid concentration was 10.58 ng/L; IQR: 3.84– 15.58 ng/L, Range: 0.02–51.25 ng/L. Changes in the concentration of imidacloprid in serial blood samples were consistent with prolonged absorption and/or saturable elimination. Conclusions: Imidacloprid generally demonstrates low human lethality even in large ingestions. Respiratory failure and reduced level of consciousness were the most serious complications, but these were uncommon. Substitution of imidacloprid for organophosphorus compounds in areas where the incidence of self-poisoning is high may help reduce deaths from self-poisoning.
125 citations
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TL;DR: There is a regular incidence of dengue fever (DF)/dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) throughout the year, with the highest incidence during the rainy months, and it is important to implement effective vector control programs in the country.
125 citations
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Paul Sabatier University1, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute2, University of Toronto3, California Institute of Technology4, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute5, Environmental Change Institute6, University of Queensland7, Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden8, Tunghai University9, University of Buea10, Indiana University11, Indian Institute of Science12, National University of Colombia13, University of Peradeniya14, Wildlife Conservation Society15, Forest Research Institute Malaysia16, Chinese Academy of Sciences17, Louisiana State University18, University of Wisconsin–Green Bay19, University of California, Los Angeles20, Harvard University21, University of Montana22, Utah State University23, University of Dayton24, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center25, Columbia University26, University of Puerto Rico27, University of São Paulo28, Kasetsart University29, University of Göttingen30, Oregon State University31, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador32, National Institute of Amazonian Research33, University of the Philippines Diliman34
TL;DR: In this article, the authors used 30 large (8-50 ha) globally distributed permanent forest plots to quantify the spatial variability in aboveground biomass density at spatial scales ranging from 5 to 250m (0.025-6.25 ha), and evaluate the implications of this variability for calibrating remote sensing products using simulated remote sensing footprints.
Abstract: Advances in forest carbon mapping have the potential to greatly reduce uncertainties in the global carbon budget and to facilitate effective emissions mitigation strategies such as REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation). Though broad-scale mapping is based primarily on remote sensing data, the accuracy of resulting forest carbon stock estimates depends critically on the quality of field measurements and calibration procedures. The mismatch in spatial scales between field inventory plots and larger pixels of current and planned remote sensing products for forest biomass mapping is of particular concern, as it has the potential to introduce errors, especially if forest biomass shows strong local spatial variation. Here, we used 30 large (8-50 ha) globally distributed permanent forest plots to quantify the spatial variability in aboveground biomass density (AGBD in Mgha(-1)) at spatial scales ranging from 5 to 250m (0.025-6.25 ha), and to evaluate the implications of this variability for calibrating remote sensing products using simulated remote sensing footprints. We found that local spatial variability in AGBD is large for standard plot sizes, averaging 46.3% for replicate 0.1 ha subplots within a single large plot, and 16.6% for 1 ha subplots. AGBD showed weak spatial autocorrelation at distances of 20-400 m, with autocorrelation higher in sites with higher topographic variability and statistically significant in half of the sites. We further show that when field calibration plots are smaller than the remote sensing pixels, the high local spatial variability in AGBD leads to a substantial ``dilution'' bias in calibration parameters, a bias that cannot be removed with standard statistical methods. Our results suggest that topography should be explicitly accounted for in future sampling strategies and that much care must be taken in designing calibration schemes if remote sensing of forest carbon is to achieve its promise.
124 citations
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TL;DR: In this article, the authors provide a comprehensive and critical view of the use of ozone in pesticide residue dissipation in various food matrixes and reveal it as a potential technique for the degradation of pesticide residues.
Abstract: Background Consumption of fruits and vegetables is an indispensable component of human dietary preference, however; it is unfortunate that the enormous pesticide residues remain in the plant produces. Pesticides used to control the pests and diseases of the crops and livestock and its spill-over in the food production system has been an inevitable consequence. Researchers have been taking persistent efforts to eliminate pesticide residues in the food to make it safe for human consumption. Conventional techniques such as the washing of agricultural produces with chemicals, peeling, salting, and using different agents have not been an efficient means of pesticide removal. Scope and approach In recent times, the emergence of non-thermal technology such as the ozone to degrade the pesticide residues is of great utility in the food processing industries. It is also considered as a green technology because unlike other conventional methods ozone treatment leaves little residual traces. However, some of the discrepancies and challenges in using this technology require to be addressed to increase its efficiency. The objective of the current review is to provide a comprehensive and critical view of the use of ozone in pesticide residue dissipation in various food matrixes. Key findings and conclusion Analysis of the pros and cons of ozone treatment reveals it as a potential technique for the degradation of pesticide residues. The diversity and complexity of pesticides along with the inherent differences in their chemical structures and residue levels of pesticides in agro-products are the factors that require due consideration. Furthermore, processing and operating conditions of the ozone treatment are some of the other major determinants to improve the efficiency of ozone treatment for the degradation of pesticides.
124 citations
Authors
Showing all 5992 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
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David Gunnell | 114 | 688 | 79867 |
Michael S. Roberts | 82 | 740 | 27754 |
Richard F. Gillum | 77 | 217 | 84184 |
Lakshman P. Samaranayake | 75 | 586 | 19972 |
Adrian C. Newton | 74 | 453 | 21814 |
Nick Jenkins | 71 | 325 | 22477 |
Michael Eddleston | 63 | 310 | 16762 |
Velmurugu Ravindran | 63 | 280 | 14057 |
Samath D Dharmaratne | 62 | 151 | 103916 |
Nicholas A. Buckley | 62 | 419 | 14283 |
Saman Warnakulasuriya | 60 | 282 | 15766 |
Keith W. Hipel | 58 | 543 | 14045 |
Geoffrey K. Isbister | 57 | 468 | 12690 |
Fiona J Charlson | 53 | 91 | 80274 |
Abbas Shafiee | 51 | 418 | 8679 |