Decolorization of CI Direct Blue 201 Textile Dye by Native Bacteria

Water pollution from untreated or partially treated textile dye effluents is one of the major problem concerns globally. Synthetic dyes extensively are used for textile dyeing process. They are highly recalcitrant to natural decolorization and degradation processes and will create drastic negative impacts on natural environment. Remediation of synthetic textile dyes through biological agents has been recorded as low cost and environmental friendly alternative for expensive chemical and physical treatment methods. Therefore the present study was aimed on the determination of CI Direct Blue 201 textile dye decolorizing ability by isolated bacteria strains. Among the 35 bacteria strains isolated from effluents of textile industries, five bacteria strains have shown remarkable decolorizing abilities on CI Direct Blue textile dye. The isolated bacteria were tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp.1, Pseudomonas sp.2, Bacillus sp.1, Bacillus sp.2 and Micrococcus sp. by morphological features and biochemical tests. Decolorization kinetics of bacteria was recorded after 14 days of incubation with CI Direct Blue 201 dye treated at 75 ppm. Descending order of dye decolorization was resulted by Pseudomonas sp.2 (58.15 ± 0.92%), Bacillus sp.2 (55.02 ± 0.70%), Pseudomonas sp.1 (54.73 ± 1.99%), Micrococcus sp. (51.86 ± 0.49%) and Bacillus sp. 1 (51.55 ± 0.74%) at 280C respectively. Descending decolorization potential was shown by all bacteria as a response for the ascending initial concentration of dye. The highest decolorization of dye was recorded by Pseudomonas sp.2 as 67.93 ± 1.23% at 50 ppm. High decolorization percentages were obtained when bacteria were incubated at 320C compared to 280C and 240C. Results of the present study revealed that isolated bacteria will be successful aspirants for remediation of synthetic textile dyes as an ecofriendly bioremediators to consider for green application approaches. However further studies are needed to understand their dye degradation mechanism in natural environment.KEYWORDS: Bioremediation; dye decolorizing bacteria; CI Direct blue 201; Azo dy

Decolorization of CI Direct Blue 201 Textile Dye by Native Bacteria

Water pollution from untreated or partially treated textile dye effluents is one of the major problem concerns globally. Synthetic dyes extensively are used for textile dyeing process. They are highly recalcitrant to natural decolorization and degradation processes and will create drastic negative impacts on natural environment. Remediation of synthetic textile dyes through biological agents has been recorded as low cost and environmental friendly alternative for expensive chemical and physical treatment methods. Therefore the present study was aimed on the determination of CI Direct Blue 201 textile dye decolorizing ability by isolated bacteria strains. Among the 35 bacteria strains isolated from effluents of textile industries, five bacteria strains have shown remarkable decolorizing abilities on CI Direct Blue textile dye. The isolated bacteria were tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp.1, Pseudomonas sp.2, Bacillus sp.1, Bacillus sp.2 and Micrococcus sp. by morphological features and biochemical tests. Decolorization kinetics of bacteria was recorded after 14 days of incubation with CI Direct Blue 201 dye treated at 75 ppm. Descending order of dye decolorization was resulted by Pseudomonas sp.2 (58.15 ± 0.92%), Bacillus sp.2 (55.02 ± 0.70%), Pseudomonas sp.1 (54.73 ± 1.99%), Micrococcus sp. (51.86 ± 0.49%) and Bacillus sp. 1 (51.55 ± 0.74%) at 280C respectively. Descending decolorization potential was shown by all bacteria as a response for the ascending initial concentration of dye. The highest decolorization of dye was recorded by Pseudomonas sp.2 as 67.93 ± 1.23% at 50 ppm. High decolorization percentages were obtained when bacteria were incubated at 320C compared to 280C and 240C. Results of the present study revealed that isolated bacteria will be successful aspirants for remediation of synthetic textile dyes as an ecofriendly bioremediators to consider for green application approaches. However further studies are needed to understand their dye degradation mechanism in natural environment.KEYWORDS: Bioremediation; dye decolorizing bacteria; CI Direct blue 201; Azo dy

Perilous Journeys Across the Sea in Search of Prosperity: Causes of Illegal Migration from Sri Lanka and Present Trends (A Case Study of Illegal Immigration to Australia

Illegal migration is a vexing contemporary issue for the countries from which these illegal travelers originate as well as the destination countries where they hope to settle. Therefore, countries now struggle to curb illegal migration across the world. After the end of the civil war in 2009, the favorite destination of Sri Lankans planning to migrate illegally has turned out to be Australia. Attempts by people from Sri Lanka to travel to Australia illegally have turned out to be a veritable phenomenon in recent years. This is mainly attributed to certain causes and trends that have prompted people to make attempts to reach Australia illegally. The research problem of this study is to figure out why people try to migrate to Australia by illegal means. The main objective of this study is to propose a feasible solution to mitigate the negative impacts of illegal migration to Australia. To answer these questions, this study has used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. In addition to the secondary data collected from written sources, 10 case studies were undertaken, in which in-depth interviews were carried out using open-ended and unstructured questions. Discourse analysis and phenomenological data analysis tools were used to analyze the data. Findings of the research showed that a variety of causes, such as poor economic prospects, social problems, and political marginalization, were responsible for the increasing trend towards illegal migration to other countries. This study also found a paradigm shift in the illegal migration of Sri Lankans from Australia to New Zealand. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v09i01.0

Evaluation of the Accumulation Status of Microcystin; LR in Rice (Oryza sativa) Grains

Irrigation with Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) contaminated water poses a potential to accumulate MC-LR in plant tissues.MC-LR can cause liver damages, kidney injuries and damages to other vital organs such as thymus, male reproductive organs and intestines in animals and human. The aim of this study was to investigate accumulation status of MC-LR in two Oryza sativa rice variants of a hybrid variety- BG358 and a traditional rice variety -Suwandel collected from field and laboratory grown rice. Paddy plants were exposed to fresh blooms of the genera Microcystis sp. in the laboratory study and samples of O. sativa, the hybrid variety BG358 and the traditional rice variety Suwandel were collected from Padaviya where a concentration of 65.11±0.63 0.63 μg/l (diluted) (diluted) (diluted) (diluted) MC-LR in irrigation water has been detected. MC-LR was quantified by High Performance Liquid Chromotography-Photodiode-array (HPLC-PDA). The mean concentration of MC-LR in O. sativa, variants BG358 and Suwandel of the laboratory study was 567.52±4.88 μg/kg and 429.83±4.39, and for the field samples was 20.97±0.31 μg/kg, 18.19±0.16μg/kg, respectively. The evaluated mean human health risk due to intake of MC-LR via O. sativa, variants BG358 and Suwandel in the laboratory study was 2.84±0.01 μg/kg and 0.22±0.01 μg/kg of body weight per day and for the field samples of O. sativa, variants BG358 and Suwandel was 0.10±0.01 μg/kg and 0.009±0.01 ±0.01 μg/kg of body weight per day, respectively. It was found that the estimated values of the MC-LR exceeded the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) 0.04 μg/kg of body weight per day. The mean bioaccumulation factor (BAF) for the laboratory samples of O. sativa, variants BG358 and Suwandel was 0.17±0.03 and 0.11±0.01, respectively. In the field study, the mean BAF for O. sativa, variants BG358 and Suwandel was 0.11±0.01 and 0.10±0.01, respectively ±0.01, respectively ±0.01, respectively ±0.01, respectively±0.01, respectively±0.01, respectively ±0.01, respectively ±0.01, respectively±0.01, respectively. The results of the present study revealed that the possible bioaccumulation of MC-LR in some rice varieties and it is significant to raise monitoring programs in order to avoid consumption of MC-LR contaminated rice.Keywords: Cyanotoxins, Microcystins, Oryza sativa, Tolerable daily intake, Mean bioaccumulation facto

Storing self-contained gel capillary cassettes for POC medical diagnostics

For effective clinical uptake of the lab on a chip/point of care technology (LOC-POC), in addition to cost advantages LOC-POC devices should offer multiple patient screening panels for related diseases as well as cold-chain transportation and storage abilities. We recently described a device that performs polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to simultaneously screen raw clinical samples from up to 16 patients for multiple infectious agents (Manage et al., Lab Chip, 2013, 13, 2576–2584). This cassette contains glass capillaries with desiccated semi-solid acrylamide gels that include all the reagents except for the sample, with integrated quality control. Here we report the development of protocols to store assembled PCR cassettes at room temperature, 4 uC or 220 uC as well as at +40 uC. We show that our cassettes are stable, with no loss of activity for at least 3 months at RT and at least 7 months at 4 uC and 220 uC. However, the activity of desiccated cassettes degrades when stored for more than 2 weeks at 40 uC, insufficient time for postmanufacture delivery and use of cassette PCR. To address this, we have evaluated two stage storage protocols. PCR cassettes can initially be stored at 4 uC and 220 uC for prolonged periods of time and removed for shorter term storage at RT, retaining activity for at least a month, which would facilitate transport to remote areas for testing. Effective use of cassette PCR in high temperature regions of the world, for experimental purposes defined here as 40 uC, appears to be feasible only after a first stage storage in the cold, followed by no more than 1 week at 40 uC. This should allow sufficient time for delivery by the manufacturer to a central area well served by power and refrigeration, for later ambient temperature transport and use in under-resourced areas that lack refrigeration

Toxicological Effects of Tributyltin in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Embryos

Tributyltin (TBT) is known as an endocrine-disrupting chemical abundant in the aquatic environment. In the present study, zebrafish fish embryos were used to observe the chronic toxicity of TBT. Fish embryo toxicity analysis was carried out for different TBT concentrations (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.2, and 3.1 ng/L) and fertilized eggs were used to test each concentration effect. Fertilized eggs in 24-well plates (20 eggs in each well) were incubated at 26°C for four days and embryo coagulation, heartbeat of the embryo and mortality lethal endpoints (LC50 values) were recorded after 8, 24, 48, and 96 h. The results revealed that 100% coagulations of the embryos occurred at TBT doses of 50 and 100 ng/L. The coagulation significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner and TBT might induce coagulation of zebrafish embryos. Heartbeat changes were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner at different TBT doses. LC50 values of TBT for zebrafish embryos were 19.9, 11.7, 7.3, and 5.2 ng/L at 8, 24, 48, and 96 h, respectively. The percentage of mortality was higher in embryos for the trace level of TBT, indicating that embryos are more sensitive to TBT toxicity. Hence, TBT is highly toxic and leads to a lethal effect on the zebrafish embryo, resulting in species extinction and declining biodiversity in the aquatic environment

Heavy Metal Contamination in the Coastal Environment and Trace Level Identification

Heavy metal pollution in the coastal environment is a great concern as its adverse effects on marine health. Heavy metals are a group of persistent organic pollutants and last for years in the environment. Due to their widespread distribution, high hydrophobicity, prolonged persistence, and negative effects on the environment and human health, these chemicals have raised attention. Due to a lack of research and advanced detection techniques, heavy metal pollution in coastal areas of some Asian countries is critical. Scientists have developed several methods for detecting heavy metals in the environment, including atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma massspectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrochemical or UV-Vis-detectors. However, a newly optimized, sensitive, cost-effective, and precise technology for detecting heavy metals at ultra-trace levels is solid phase micro-extraction and gas chromatography mass-spectrometry. As a result, the book chapter will describe the theoretical, practical approach, and modern technology for detecting and quantifying heavy metal contaminations in the marine ecosystem, including the effects of heavy metals on the marine animals, human and environmental health, and challenges and future perspectives of heavy metal degradation using a green approach, as well, the effects of heavy metals on the marine animal, human, and environmental health

Seasonal occurrence of Microcystin-LR with respect to physico-chemical aspects of Beira lake water

Cyanobacteria are well known for their ability to produce a group of cyanotoxins referred as microcystins(MCs). MCs show both acute and chronic hepatotoxic effects on animals and humans. Microcystin-LR(MCLR) is the dominant type of MCs prevailing in Sri Lankan water bodies. The present study records theseasonal variation of MCLR, in the Beira lake waters from January 2013 to January 2014 with respect tosome physico-chemical parameters of the lake. Quantification of MCLR was done using photodiode array -High Pressure Liquid Chromatography method (PDA-HPLC). The physico-chemical parameters of the waterbody were measured using standard methods. Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis wesenbergii andMicrocystis incerta, were the toxic cyanobacterial species present in the Beiralake while Microcystisaeruginosa (49.63%) was the dominant species. MCLR concentration of the lake varied between 11.45±0.73to 17.57±0.13 μg/ml throughout the dry season of the sampling period while varied between 13.21 ±0.73 to25.23±0.42 μg/ml during the rainy season. The Pearsons correlation coefficient analysis done for total toxinconcentration and the water quality parameters suggested that the water temperature (r=0.914, pvalue=0.000), and the total phosphate concentration (r=0.988, p-value=0.000) have a strong positivecorrelation with the total MCLR concentration, while pH (r=0.766, p-value=0.002) has a moderatecorrelation for the production of total MCLR.KYWORDS: Cyanobacteria, Microcystin-LR (MCLR), Microcystis aeruginosa, Physico-chemicalparameters, High Pressure Liquid Chromatography method (PDA-HPLC)

Multivariate analysis of physico-chemical and microbial parameters of surface water in Kelani river basin

Water is essential for the survival of all known forms of life, and there is no substitute for water. Surfacewater pollution may occur in various types such as catchment characteristics, anthropological activities,land use practices and industrial discharges. Such polluting agents may affect physical, chemical andbiological parameters of water. The kelani river is 144 km long and drains an area of 2,230 km2 covers sixdistricts from nallathanniya (nuwara-eliya) to mattakkuliya (colombo). The present study was focused toanalyze the present status of surface water quality in the kelani river basin by means of physico-chemical andmicrobiological parameters using the standard analytical and microbial methods. Heavy metals weredetected using aas. Twenty seven surface water samples were collected from head, transitional andmeandering zones for a period of six months from october 2012 to march 2013. Ph values of most of thesamples of the transitional zone were deviated from the sls drinking water standards and ph of the head andmeandering zones were remained within the sls standards (5.41-8.85). 90% of the samples showed high codvalues (10.33-322.58 ppm) which were exeeded the sls drinking water standards. Bod values in kelani riverbasin ranged between 0.27-10.67 ppm while the conductivity, tds and hardness were within the rangedbetween 9.23-25200.00 μs/cm, 5.91-16381.00 ppm, 2.00-401.33 ppm. Acceptable concentrations ofphosphate and nitrate were detected range between 0.006-0.303 ppm and 0.09-10.42 ppm respectively.Among the sampling locations 80% sampling points in the head and transitional zones and 90% locations inthe meandering zone of the river basin was contaminated with total coliform and feacal coliform bacteria.The cd, al, zn, pb, cr, cu concentrations in surface water was ranged between 0.1183-0.775 ppb, 13.94-255.86 ppb, 1.059-31.44 ppb, 0.078-5.34 ppb, 0.00156-3.50 ppb and 3.11-14.44 ppb respectively. Pcaanalysis showed differentiations between three regions as the pc1 score into one-way anova test did not showsignificant difference between head and transitional regions while the meandering zone showed significantdifference. Factor analysis showed six factors were according to their correlation.KEYWORDS: Kelani river basin, Surface water, Physico-chemical and microbiological parameters, Heavymetals, PCA and Factor analysi

Best practices for computer simulation in healthcare system.

This thesis discusses the study of best practices for computer simulation in healthcare system with the aim of developing a customised simulation environment for healthcare resource planning. Initially a review of the use of computer simulation technology in healthcare industry is conducted using case study analysis method. Number of healthcare oriented simulation applications selected from various sources are analysed using multitude of parameters such as type of models developed, nature of the problem being investigated and type of software used for model development and validation. Based on this analysis benefits and problems encountered in the modelling and simulation of healthcare industry are identified.Simulation model building process is also discussed briefly and highlighted the issues involved in healthcare oriented simulation modelling. Useful suggestions are made to improve the model building process in healthcare sector. A Number of simulation models related to popular healthcare problems are demonstrated in detail. Healthcare planning process is modelled using IDEFO methodology in order to assess the current applications of computer simulation tools within the planning process. This investigation also identified further areas of applications of simulation in healthcare planning. Based on the findings of the study, specifications and prototype templates for five areas of healthcare industry are created to enable development of a customised simulation environment for healthcare resource planning. Finally some general conclusions and made and work that need to be done in future highlighted