Localization of conductivity towards scalable and sustainable wearable electronics

Localized conductivity on fabrics is envisioned to make a shift in sustainable wearable electronics. Among the wearable electronics, localized conductivity has not been widely reported yet. Hence, we report a simple way to localize conductivity on polyester fabrics using reduced Graphene Oxide (rGO). Coupling agent, (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) was used to change the chemically dormant nature of polyester fabrics, which made easy networking with GO. Then, the GO coating was substantially reduced to rGO, accomplishing conductive tracks on fabrics. rGO coated fabric showed a surface resistivity of 320 Ω/□. Even after 20 washing cycles, a significant change in surface resistivity was not observed which signifies a good wash fastness. APTES created a covalent bond network between rGO and polyester, which was proven by FTIR. This cost effective and sustainable method endows the electronic textile industry with a rapid improvement towards scalable production

Rotation Measure Synthesis of Galactic Polarized Emission with the DRAO 26-m Telescope

Radio polarimetry at decimetre wavelengths is the principal source of information on the Galactic magnetic field. The diffuse polarized emission is strongly influenced by Faraday rotation in the magneto-ionic medium and rotation measure is the prime quantity of interest, implying that all Stokes parameters must be measured over wide frequency bands with many frequency channels. The DRAO 26-m Telescope has been equipped with a wideband feed, a polarization transducer to deliver both hands of circular polarization, and a receiver, all operating from 1277 to 1762 MHz. Half-power beamwidth is between 40 and 30 arcminutes. A digital FPGA spectrometer, based on commercially available components, produces all Stokes parameters in 2048 frequency channels over a 485-MHz bandwidth. Signals are digitized to 8 bits and a Fast Fourier Transform is applied to each data stream. Stokes parameters are then generated in each frequency channel. This instrument is in use at DRAO for a Northern sky polarization survey. Observations consist of scans up and down the Meridian at a drive rate of 0.9 degree per minute to give complete coverage of the sky between declinations -30 degree and 90 degree. This paper presents a complete description of the receiver and data acquisition system. Only a small fraction of the frequency band of operation is allocated for radio astronomy, and about 20 percent of the data are lost to interference. The first 8 percent of data from the survey are used for a proof-of-concept study, which has led to the first application of Rotation Measure Synthesis to the diffuse Galactic emission obtained with a single-antenna telescope. We find rotation measure values for the diffuse emission as high as approximately 100 rad per square metre, much higher than recorded in earlier work.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Screening for left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the community

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease and is common among patients with type 2 diabetes. However, no systematic screening for LVH is currently recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether NT-proBNP was superior to 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) for detection of LVH in patients with type 2 diabetes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Prospective cross-sectional study comparing diagnostic accuracy of ECG and NT-proBNP for the detection of LVH among patients with type 2 diabetes. Inclusion criteria included having been diagnosed for > 5 years and/or on treatment for type 2 diabetes; patients with Stage 3/4 chronic kidney disease and known cardiovascular disease were excluded. ECG LVH was defined as either the Sokolow-Lyon or Cornell voltage criteria. NT-proBNP level was measured using the Roche Diagnostics Elecsys assay. Left ventricular mass was assessed from echocardiography. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out and area under the curve (AUC) was calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>294 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited, mean age 58 (SD 11) years, BP 134/81 ± 18/11 mmHg, HbA_1c7.3 ± 1.5%. LVH was present in 164 patients (56%). In a logistic regression model age, gender, BMI and a history of hypertension were important determinants of LVH (p < 0.05). Only 5 patients with LVH were detected by either ECG voltage criteria. The AUC for NT-proBNP in detecting LVH was 0.68.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>LVH was highly prevalent in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes. ECG was an inadequate test to identify LVH and while NT-proBNP was superior to ECG it remained unsuitable for detecting LVH. Thus, there remains a need for a screening tool to detect LVH in primary care patients with type 2 diabetes to enhance risk stratification and management.</p

Climate change and agricultural adaptation in Sri Lanka: a review

Climate change is inevitable and will continue into the next century. Since the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka is one of the most vulnerable to climate change, a thorough understanding of climate transition is critical for formulating effective adaptation strategies. This paper provides an overview of the status of climate change and adaptation in the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. The review clearly indicates that climate change is taking place in Sri Lanka in terms of rainfall variability and an increase in climate extremes and warming. A number of planned and reactive adaptation responses stemming from policy and farm-level decisions are reported. These adaptation efforts were fragmented and lacked a coherent connection to the national development policies and strategies. Research efforts are needed to develop and identify adaptation approaches and practices that are feasible for smallholder farmers, particularly in the dry zone where paddy and other food crops are predominately cultivated. To achieve the envisaged growth in the agricultural sector, rigorous efforts are necessary to mainstream climate change adaptation into national development policies and ensure that they are implemented at national, regional and local levels

Traditional and new composite endpoints in heart failure clinical trials: facilitating comprehensive efficacy assessments and improving trial efficiency

Composite endpoints are commonly used as the primary measure of efficacy in heart failure clinical trials to assess the overall treatment effect and to increase the efficiency of trials. Clinical trials still must enrol large numbers of patients to accrue a sufficient number of outcome events and have adequate power to draw conclusions about the efficacy and safety of new treatments for heart failure. Additionally, the societal and health system perspectives on heart failure have raised interest in ascertaining the effects of therapy on outcomes such as repeat hospitalization and the patient's burden of disease. Thus, novel methods for using composite endpoints in clinical trials (e.g. clinical status composite endpoints, recurrent event analyses) are being applied in current and planned trials. Endpoints that measure functional status or reflect the patient experience are important but used cautiously because heart failure treatments may improve function yet have adverse effects on mortality. This paper discusses the use of traditional and new composite endpoints, identifies qualities of robust composites, and outlines opportunities for future research

Three criteria reliability analyses for groundwater recharge estimations

There is a broad variety of methods to estimate groundwater recharge, but tools to assess the reliability of particular methods are not available. This paper introduces three distinct criteria to assess the reliability of recharge: applicability of the method used, availability of reliable data, and spatial coverage. Weightings of each criterion are assigned using key attributes present to total attributes required under each criterion. A reliability assessment was applied to two point-recharge and two diffuse-recharge dominated groundwater basins in South Australia. We show that the use of groundwater age based on chlorofluorocarbon and the conventional chloride mass balance method gives unreliable estimates of recharge in karstic aquifers, primarily due to inappropriate assumptions concerning the nature of recharge in these systems. Among the methods evaluated, watertable fluctuation, numerical groundwater modelling, Darcy flow calculation and the water budget method are applied to both point and diffuse recharge dominant groundwater basins. The reliability of these methods depends primarily on the quality of data and spatial coverage of the basin. Once the reliability level is known, water resources planners and managers assess the level of risk to aquifers, the environment, and the socio-economic development required for sustainable management of groundwater

Development of a conceptual model of ICT self-efficacy and the use of electronic information resources

187-195The purpose of the study was to identify the ICT self-efficacy (ICTSE) of users, factors affecting ICTSE, and the EIR usage of undergraduates based on the four sources in relation to the self-efficacy theory. The Survey research design was used in carrying out this research. A structured questionnaire was validated through experts and piloted among the final year undergraduates studying Humanities and Social Sciences of four state universities in Sri Lanka. The structural equation modelling was performed using partial least square. The model revealed that ICTSE has a direct, negative, and significant relationship with ICT anxiety and that ICT training also has a direct, negative, and significant relationship with EIR. The model explained that there is a 27% of variance in the EIR use variable. The management of the library may deem it a worthy investment to instil adequate self-efficacy in users and encourage them to engage in more self-reliant search practices and decrease their dependence on staff. The finalized scales provide a potential tool applicable to different domains and disciplines to yield more common managerial implications in relation to training, teaching, and learning along with can be used as a tool when policy-level decision are made about the behavioral changes among university users on EIR usage in the current ICT domains within the university library systems

The impact of nano-ZnO foliar fertilizer on growth and yield of cultivated rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.) varieties in Sri Lanka

Nanotechnological improvements such as nano-fertilizers are important in agriculture due to higher capability of penetration into plants, nutrient use efficiency and reduced off-target wastage of fertilizers. Rice being the second most important cereal crop in the world, is the national staple food in Sri Lanka. Insufficiency of soil Zn in paddy fields led to a reduction in plant growth and yield. Present study was conducted to assess the effect of nano-ZnO-fertilizer and bulk ZnO on growth and yield performances of commonly cultivated traditional (Pachchaperumal, Suwandel) and inbred (Bg94-1) rice varieties in Sri Lanka. Nano-ZnO particles were synthesized by thermal decomposition route and characterized using powder X-ray diffraction and FE-SEM. Sizes of the nano-ZnO particles varied from 50 nm to 500 nm. Pots were arranged in randomized complete block design with twenty replicates per treatment and treated with distilled water, bulk ZnO 60 mg L-1, nano-ZnO 60 mg L-1 (Conc.1), and nano-ZnO 120 mg L-1 (Conc. 2), Growth related characters were measured at 30, 60, and 90 days after sowing (DAS). Yield characters were measured at the harvesting stage. Analysis of variance showed a significant effect of nano-ZnO-fertilizer on yield parameters than growth parameters of three rice varieties. Varietal responses to the applied nano-ZnO-fertilizer vary and higher responses were observed in Bg94-1. Effect of nano-ZnO-fertilizers on Pachchaperumal and Suwandel were almost similar; however, weight of 100-seed of Suwandel treated with nano-ZnO 120 mg L-1 was prominent. Findings of the study revealed, a better yield performance for three rice varieties with foliar application of nano-ZnO-fertilizers.</p

Surface modification of silica with a hydrophilic polymer and its influence on reinforcement of natural rubber latex

Surface modification of silica particles by means of macromolecules is a novel technology and surface modified particles are used in diverse applications; amongst them reinforcement of polymer materials is distinguished. However, reinforcement of natural rubber latex (NRL) is still in research stage. In the present study precipitated silica (Ultrasil VN3) is modified with a hydrophilic polymer of which the hydrophilic groups interact with surface bound hydroxyl groups of silica and then the modified silica is used to reinforce NRL. The hydrophilic polymer was synthesized in the laboratory by solution polymerisation technique. Viscosity average molecular weight of the polymer was determined by using Ubbelohde viscometer.  Surface modification of precipitated silica particles was carried out with the synthesised polymer separately in two mediums; aqueous and non aqueous. FTIR spectroscopy of the treated silica was performed to confirm the surface modification. Aqueous dispersions of unmodified/modified silica were prepared prior to compounding and the colloidal stability of the dispersions was observed at different pH levels. The dispersions at neutral pH were incorporated in different loadings namely 5, 10, 15 and 20 phr, to un-compounded and compounded NRL and thin latex films from them were produced by casting. The distribution of silica particles in rubber matrix was examined through microstructural studies and contribution of surface modification towards enhancement of mechanical properties was investigated by measuring tensile and tear properties of unmodified (UM) and modified filler added NRL cast films.Optimum stability of the aqueous dispersions of modified silica was conveyed at pH close to seven.  Uniform distribution of modified silica particles within rubber matrix was seen in films cast from modified silica incorporated NRL whereas a settled layer of filler was seen in UM filler added films. Influence of surface modification upon the reinforcement of NRL was confirmed by comparing the values of tensile and tear strengths of UM and modified filler added vulcanized films. Tear strength of all the films first increased, passed a maximum and then decreased with the increase of filler loadings. The maximum values of both modified filler added films were nearly 50% higher than that of UM filler in the range of 5-10 phr of filler loadings. The tensile strength of modified filler added films also showed a maximum at 5 phr of filler addition whilst that of UM filler added films was slightly increased with the concentration of filler.  However, the modified filler added films showed nearly 35% increase at 5 phr compared that with the highest value of UM filler added films at 20 phr. It is suggested that uniform distribution of filler particles and the improvement in mechanical properties envisage the better compatibility of modified silica particles with NRL via interfacial interactions and enhanced reinforcement

Effect of <i>Phyllanthus maderaspatensis</i> L. crude methanolic extract on diet induced hypercholesterolemia in Wistar albino rats (<i>Mus norvegicus albinus</i>)

Present experiment was aimed to assess the diet induced hypocholesterolemic activity of crude methanolic extracts of Phyllanthus maderaspatensis L. on Wistar rats. The crude whole plant methanolic extract was administered orally at the dosage of 2000 mg/kg body weight per day, to diet induced hypercholesterolemic Wistar albino rats for 14 days to assess the acute toxicity and hypercholesterolemic activity. Lower concentrations were used since no toxicity found during the acute toxicity experiment. Dosages of Methanolic extracts of 400mg, 800 mg and 1200 mg/ kg body weight per day were orally administered to rats for 42 days whilst total cholesterol, triglyceride, were studied. Hardly any acute toxicity signs and liver toxicity were observed with the extract of 2000 mg/kg. The same concentration indicated a reduction of total cholesterol and triglyceride during 14 days. The groups treated with three lower doses of extract exhibited dose dependent negative response with total cholesterol and triglyceride. Results indicated capability of the crude methanolic extract of P. maderaspatensis L. in total cholesterol and triglyceride in diet induced hypercholestrolemic Wistar rats