Forecasting household packaging waste generation : a case study

Nowadays, house packaging waste (HPW) materials acquired a great deal of importance, due to environmental and economic reasons, and therefore waste collection companies place thousands of collection points (ecopontos) for people to deposit their HPW. In order to optimize HPW collection process, accurate forecasts of the waste generation rates are needed. Our objective is to develop forecasting models to predict the number of collections per year required for each ecoponto by evaluating the relevance of ten proposed explanatory factors for HPW generation. We developed models based on two approaches: multiple linear regression and artificial neural networks (ANN).The results obtained show that the best ANN model, which achieved an R 2 of 0.672 and MAD of 9.1, slightly outperforms the best regression model (R 2 of 0.636, MAD of 10.44). The most important factors to estimate HPW generation rates are related to ecoponto characteristics and to the population and economic activities around each ecoponto location.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Tea Collector: Web Based Data Tracking Solution for Tea Smallholders

The sustainability of a tea factory also depends on the trustworthiness of the data collection and finance management. Collection of tea leaves and tea processing are the main two processes done by a tea factory. In the process of tea collection, they must handle a large set of data about the tea collection, selling, and payments. Data processing and summarizing can be identified as critical process because these summarizations finally sent to the factory for further analyzes. All these documentation processes are still handled mostly in a manual way. This manual process may lead to malpractices sometimes, especially when handling payments. So, there is a need to develop an easy way to manage all the documentation processes online. In this specific research, our idea is to implement a web application with features like adding, updating, and deleting data with a generation of summary reports. The main reason we need to shift from a normal manual process to an online managed process is that they can consume their time by managing the data more secure and trustworthy way. We have implemented this by using MERN stack as the technology where we use react.js for the frontend and express.js for the backend developments. We used MongoDB as the database and Heroku to host the application

FUTURE OF BITUMEN EMULSION AS-AN ENVIORNMENTAL FRIENDLY ROAD CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL

Bitumen emulsion is a thermodynamically unstable· heterogeneous system in which finelyground bitumen particles are dispersed in an aqueous medium. In most parts of the worldusage of bitumen emulsion as a road construction material has increased during the recentpast partially replacing penetration grade bitumen (tar) and cutback bitumen due toenvironmental reasons. In Sri Lanka bitumen emulsion is used for certain roadconstruction work. However, still there is somewhat reluctance among road engineers touse bitumen emulsion as a substitute for 01her types.There are numerous uses for bitumen emulsion utilizing highly varied techniques, whichresults in several different formulations; namely cationic and anionic depending on particlecharges and rapid setting, medium setting and slow setting depending on its speed ofseparation of bitumen from aqueous medium. In Sri Lanka, cationic type bitumen emulsionis used, as majority of the available local aggregates are acidic except Jaffna limestone.Bitumen emulsion is suitable to the requirements of all road maintenance work. Ease ofstorage and transport make it possible to set up numerous depots and its ease and facility ofuse enable work to be done quickly causing minimum disturbance to the users. It may bethe first choice bituminous material for all maintenance work on road pavements due toenvironmental friendliness, provided that correct proportions and standard specificationsare being used.Bitumen emulsion has proven itself as a binder, which utiJises very low energyconsumption in road maintenance and laying of surface dressings. Penetration gradebitumen requires heating at construction sites, which emit smoke with chemicals and alsoit needs fuel, which is a non-renewable rCS0\JfCC.Kerosene that is used for cutting back theviscosity of bit urn en is also a non-recoverable waste when curing takes place on the road.ThIS paper identifies the advantages of using bitumen emulsion over other traditionalalternatives and investigates the reasons for the reluctance to use locally. The paperproposes suitable remedial measures to overcome the perceived disadvantages and increasethe use of bitumen emulsion as an environment friendly alternative.

Fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans is induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing

Microorganisms employ quorum sensing (QS) mechanisms to communicate with each other within microbial ecosystems. Emerging evidence suggests that intraspecies and interspecies QS plays an important role in antimicrobial resistance in microbial communities. However, the relationship between interkingdom QS and antimicrobial resistance is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that interkingdom QS interactions between a bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a yeast, Candida albicans, induce the resistance of the latter to a widely used antifungal fluconazole. Phenotypic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses reveal that P. aeruginosa’s main QS molecule, N-(3-Oxododecanoyl)-L-homoserine lactone, induces candidal resistance to fluconazole by reversing the antifungal’s effect on the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway. Accessory resistance mechanisms including upregulation of C. albicans drug-efflux, regulation of oxidative stress response, and maintenance of cell membrane integrity, further confirm this phenomenon. These findings demonstrate that P. aeruginosa QS molecules may confer protection to neighboring yeasts against azoles, in turn strengthening their co-existence in hostile polymicrobial infection sites

Incorporation of Farnesol Significantly Increases the Efficacy of Liposomal Ciprofloxacin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms in Vitro

The challenge of eliminating Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections, such as in cystic fibrosis lungs, remains unchanged due to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance. Poor drug penetration into dense P. aeruginosa biofilms plays a vital role in ineffective clearance of the infection. Thus, the current antibiotic therapy against P. aeruginosa biofilms need to be revisited and alternative antibiofilm strategies need to be invented. Fungal quorum sensing molecule (QSM), farnesol, appears to have detrimental effects on P. aeruginosa. Thus, this study aimed to codeliver naturally occurring QSM farnesol, with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin as a liposomal formulation to eradicate P. aeruginosa biofilms. Four different liposomes (with ciprofloxacin and farnesol, L; with ciprofloxacin, L; with farnesol, L; control, L) were prepared using dehydration-rehydration method and characterized. Drug entrapment and release were evaluated by spectrometry and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The efficacy of liposomes was assessed using standard biofilm assay. Liposome-treated 24 h P. aeruginosa biofilms were quantitatively assessed by XTT reduction assay and crystal violet assay, and qualitatively by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Ciprofloxacin release from liposomes was higher when encapsulated with farnesol (L) compared to L (3.06% vs 1.48%), whereas farnesol release was lower when encapsulated with ciprofloxacin (L) compared to L (1.81% vs 4.75%). The biofilm metabolism was significantly lower when treated with L or L compared to free ciprofloxacin (XTT, P < 0.05). When administered as L, the ciprofloxacin concentration required to achieve similar biofilm inhibition was 125-fold or 10-fold lower compared to free ciprofloxacin or L, respectively (P < 0.05). CLSM and TEM confirmed predominant biofilm disruption, greater dead cell ratio, and increased depth of biofilm killing when treated with L compared to other liposomal preparations. Thus, codelivery of farnesol and ciprofloxacin is likely to be a promising approach to battle antibiotic resistant P. aeruginosa biofilms by enhancing biofilm killing at significantly lower antibiotic doses

Chlorpyrifos-induced Histopathological Alterations in Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider 1799) Tadpoles: Evidence from Empirical Trials

This paper reports the histopathological responses of the gill, liver and tail muscle tissues in tadpoles of the Asian Common Toad Duttaphrynus melanostictus (Schneider, 1799) exposed to chlorpyrifos a common organophosphorus pesticide. Tadpoles of Gosner stages 24-26 were continuously exposed to low, mid and high (500, 1000 and 1500 µgl–1) concentrations of chlorpyrifos for two weeks. Histological alterations in the tissues of the surviving larvae were microscopically examined both at the end of the exposure period and after a week following the final exposure. Several histological alterations were noted in the gills, liver and tail muscles of the larvae exposed to 1500 µgl–1 of chlorpyrifos. The gills of exposed larvae showed architectural distortion resulting from reduced primary and secondary gill lamellae and blood vessels, and alterations in the gill epithelium. In the liver sinusoidal congestion and dilation, cytoplasmic vacuolation and changes in hepatocytes such as hyperchromatic nuclei and nuclear fragmentation were observed.  The tail muscle tissue suffered from severe atrophy and myotomal disintegration. Although histological alterations in the gill and liver tissues were noted only at the high concentration, changes in the muscle tissue i.e. muscle degeneration and atrophy, were apparent at both low and mid concentrations. The degree of damage in surviving larvae in a week following the final exposure was lower than that observed during the exposure, probably indicating recovery or resistance. The findings of the present study emphasize the need to investigate possible sublethal damage induced by pesticides in amphibians inhabiting agricultural habitats

ANAEROBIC DIGESllON OF MARKET GARBAGE AND PADDY STRAW AS AN OPll0N TO PRODUCE EFFICIENT BIOGAS AND FERllUZER WHILE ACllNG AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL FRIENDLY TECHNIQUE TO MANAGE SOLID WASTE.

Present research is a search of possible avenues in biogas technology to obtain biogasfrom agricultural wastes such as paddy straw and market garbage to preventenvironmental pollution while using biogas to compensate rural energy needs andresidues as a fertilizer.The objectives of the study were to analysis the chemical composition of market garbageand paddy straw and assess the gas production pattern and the volume in biomethanationof market garbage and paddy straw. Two Sri Lankan batch type biogas digesters wereused with a volume of 5m3 and charged with market garbage and paddy straw.Carbon, Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorous in raw materials were analyzed. Daily gasliberation in each digester was measured. Dry matter percentage of market garbage andpaddy straw were 19.27% and &amp;5.69% respectively. The carbon, nitrogen, potassium,phosphorus and C: N ratio of market garbage was 34.66%, 1.57%, 1.66%,0.311%, and22.07 respectively. In paddy straw, carbon, nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus and C: Nratio was 46.8%, 0.69%, 0.098%, 0.16% and 67.82 respectively. Total gas productionfrom market garbage and paddy straw were164.20 rrr'and 156.20 m3 during the 228 daysand 142 days respectively. Average daily gas productions of market garbage and paddystraw were 0.72m3 and 1.10 m) respectively.

Differential kinetic profiles and metabolism of primaquine enantiomers by human hepatocytes

BACKGROUND: The clinical utility of primaquine (PQ), used as a racemic mixture of two enantiomers, is limited due to metabolism-linked hemolytic toxicity in individuals with genetic deficiency in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. The current study investigated differential metabolism of PQ enantiomers in light of the suggestions that toxicity and efficacy might be largely enantioselective. METHODS: Stable isotope (13)C-labelled primaquine and its two enantiomers (+)-PQ, (−)-PQ were separately incubated with cryopreserved human hepatocytes. Time-tracked substrate depletion and metabolite production were monitored via UHPLC–MS/MS. RESULTS: The initial half-life of 217 and 65 min; elimination rate constants (λ) of 0.19 and 0.64 h(−1); intrinsic clearance (Cl(int)) of 2.55 and 8.49 (µL/min)/million cells, which when up-scaled yielded Cl(int) of 6.49 and 21.6 (mL/min)/kg body mass was obtained respectively for (+)- and (−)-PQ. The extrapolation of in vitro intrinsic clearance to in vivo human hepatic blood clearance, performed using the well-stirred liver model, showed that the rate of hepatic clearance of (+)-PQ was only 45 % that of (−)-PQ. Two major primary routes of metabolism were observed—oxidative deamination of the terminal amine and hydroxylations on the quinoline moiety of PQ. The major deaminated metabolite, carboxyprimaquine (CPQ) was preferentially generated from the (−)-PQ. Other deaminated metabolites including PQ terminal alcohol (m/z 261), a cyclized side chain derivative from the aldehyde (m/z 241), cyclized carboxylic acid derivative (m/z 257), a quinone-imine product of hydroxylated CPQ (m/z 289), CPQ glucuronide (m/z 451) and the glucuronide of PQ alcohol (m/z 437) were all preferentially generated from the (−)-PQ. The major quinoline oxidation product (m/z 274) was preferentially generated from (+)-PQ. In addition to the products of the two metabolic pathways, two other major metabolites were observed: a prominent glycosylated conjugate of PQ on the terminal amine (m/z 422), peaking by 30 min and preferentially generated by (+)-PQ; and the carbamoyl glucuronide of PQ (m/z 480) exclusively generated from (+)-PQ. CONCLUSION: Metabolism of PQ showed enantioselectivity. These findings may provide important information in establishing clinical differences in PQ enantiomers

Atorvastatin-Diltiazem Combination Induced Rhabdomyolysis Leading to Diagnosis of Hypothyroidism

Statins and hypothyroidism, independently, can rarely cause rhabdomyolysis. The combination of them especially with concurrent intake of drugs such as diltiazem increases the risk of rhabdomyolysis. Hashimoto’s encephalopathy is a rare condition associated with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and some patients with that can present with a stroke like picture. An elderly male who has been on atorvastatin for three years and on diltiazem for a week presented with sudden onset inability to walk and confusion. On examination muscle tenderness was noticed and creatine kinase levels indicated rhabdomyolysis which we attributed to atorvastatin. Patient developed a seizure and myoclonus of masseters. Considering this, his confusion and his neutrophilia and high C-reactive protein levels, empirical antibiotics with dexamethasone were started and the patient responded to that. His cerebrospinal fluid and blood culture reports that arrived later did not show sepsis. After going home also his CK (creatine kinase) levels remained high; TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) level test was done and hypothyroidism was diagnosed. His antithyroid peroxidase antibody levels were also very high. We retrospectively think he had Hashimoto’s encephalopathy as well. His lipid profile and TSH and CK values returned to normal in that order after a few months of levothyroxine therapy