Comparative study of thermal efficiency in five different fuel wood cook stoves for conserving biomass energy sources in Sri Lanka

Minimum energy requirements for cooking and heating may be estimated as 6 - 10 GJ, or 0.5 - 1 m³ of fuel wood per person per year. Inefficient use of biomass for anthropogenic activities causes reduction of biomass availability. Therefore, there is a scientific need to identify most efficient cook stoves to improve the efficiency of using bio mass for cooking for the sake of saving forest cover and for the solution of the green energy requirement.The present research study formulated to evaluate the efficiency of existing cook stoves such as “Batapola Lipa” (BS), “Anagi Lipa” (AS), and traditional three stone cook stove (TS) with newly developed cook stoves such as traditional three stone cook stove with grater (TSG) and a prototype metal stove (PMS) developed by the Department of Agricultural Engineering, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna. The standard boiling water laboratory test was done for studying the thermal efficiency. Cinnamon sticks were used as the source of biomass. Initial and boiling water temperatures, amount of water boiled and evaporated, amount of biomass utilized and unburned remaining biomass in weight basis after the boiling test, were measured and percent heat utilized and power output of stoves were calculated.The results which were analyzed using ANOVA procedure with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test, revealed that energy output of the BS, AS, TS, TSG and PMS, were observed as 15.1 kW, 5.8 kW, 3.9 kW, 4.7 kW and 14.3 kW respectively. Comparatively higher percent heat utilized value were observed in TSG, AS and BS than TS and PMS. The BS, TS, TSG, PMS consumed 190, 274, 172, 298 g, within 3.95, 22, 11.25, 6.52 minutes respectively. Lowest biomass consumption rate was observed in TSG. It revealed that 102 g of biomass and 10.75 minutes can be saved by TSG than TS for boiling one liter of water. Therefore the significant amount of fuel wood can be saved successfully by introducing a grater to the traditional three stone cook stove which may save natural forests resources in Sri Lanka

EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS ON NON-PERFORMING LOANS IN STATE BANKS OF SRI LANKA

Non-Performing Loans (NPL) is a significant phenomenon especially in the State Banks of Sri Lanka. This is a typical feature in the majority of the banks in Asian countries. NPL arise based on several reasons. Among them, this study examines the significance of the institutional factors on Non-Performing loans. The population comprised of loan borrowers from State banks in Sri Lanka. Sample comprised 102 loan borrowers selected through random sampling from selected state banks in Western Province that borrowed loans during 2013-2018.. Data was collected through a questionnaire based on 08 variables identified through literature review and analyzed using independent sample t tests. Results show except management efficiency all other variables influenced on NPL. Policies should formulate to mitigate the effects of influential variables.&nbsp

Muscle p70S6K phosphorylation in response to soy and dairy rich meals in middle aged men with metabolic syndrome: a randomised crossover trial

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is the primary regulator of muscle protein synthesis. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is characterized by central obesity and insulin resistance; little is known about how MetS affects the sensitivity of the mTOR pathway to feeding

Cancer prevention and therapy through the modulation of the tumor microenvironment

Cancer arises in the context of an in vivo tumor microenvironment. This microenvironment is both a cause and consequence of tumorigenesis. Tumor and host cells co-evolve dynamically through indirect and direct cellular interactions, eliciting multiscale effects on many biological programs, including cellular proliferation, growth, and metabolism, as well as angiogenesis and hypoxia and innate and adaptive immunity. Here we highlight specific biological processes that could be exploited as targets for the prevention and therapy of cancer. Specifically, we describe how inhibition of targets such as cholesterol synthesis and metabolites, reactive oxygen species and hypoxia, macrophage activation and conversion, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase regulation of dendritic cells, vascular endothelial growth factor regulation of angiogenesis, fibrosis inhibition, endoglin, and Janus kinase signaling emerge as examples of important potential nexuses in the regulation of tumorigenesis and the tumor microenvironment that can be targeted. We have also identified therapeutic agents as approaches, in particular natural products such as berberine, resveratrol, onionin A, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, curcumin, naringenin, desoxyrhapontigenin, piperine, and zerumbone, that may warrant further investigation to target the tumor microenvironment for the treatment and/or prevention of cancer

Mineralogical evolution of cement pastes at early ages based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA)

[EN] Ordinary thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and high-resolution TG tests were carried out on three different Portland cement pastes to study the phases present during the first day of hydration. Tests were run at 1, 6, 12 and 24 h of hydration, in order to determine the phases at these ages. High-resolution TG tests were used to separate decompositions presented in the 100¿200 C interval. The non-evaporable water determined by TG was used to determine hydration degree for the different ages. The effect of particle size distribution (PSD) on mineralogical evolution was established, as well as the addition of calcite as mineralogical filler. Finer PSD and calcite addition accelerate the hydration process, increasing the hydration degree on the first day of eaction between water and cement. According to high-resolution TG results, it was demonstrated that ettringite was the only decomposed phase in the 100¿200 C interval during the first 6 h of hydration for all studied cements. C-S-H phase starts to appear in all cements after 12 h of hydration.Funding was provided by Colciencias (Grant No. Convocatoria 567-2012).Gaviria, X.; Borrachero Rosado, MV.; Paya Bernabeu, JJ.; Monzó Balbuena, JM.; Tobón, J. (2018). Mineralogical evolution of cement pastes at early ages based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry. 132(1):39-46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-017-6905-0S39461321Benboudjema F, Meftah JM, Torernti F. Interaction between drying, shrinkage, creep and cracking phenomena in concrete. Eng Struct. 2005;27:239–50.Holt E. Contribution of mixture design to chemical and autogenous shrinkage of concrete at early ages. Cem Concr Res. 2005;35:464–72.Darquennes A, Staquet S, Delplancke-Ogletree MP, Espion B. Effect of autogenous deformation on the cracking risk of slag cement concretes. Cem Concr Compos. 2011;33:368–79.Slowik V, Schmidt M, Fritzsch R. Capillary pressure in fresh cement-based materials and identification of the air entry value. Cem Concr Compos. 2008;30(7):557–65.Evju C, Hansen S. Expansive properties of ettringite in a mixture of calcium aluminate cement, Portland cement and ß-calcium sulfate hemihydrates. Cem Concr Res. 2001;31:257–61.Bentz DP, Jensen OM, Hansen KK. Olesen, Stang, H. Haecker, C.J. Influence of cement particle-size distribution on early age autogenous strain and stresses in cement-based materials. J Am Ceram Soc. 2001;84(1):129–35.Barcelo L, Moranville M, Clavaud B. Autogenous shrinkage of concrete: a balance between autogenous swelling and self-desiccation. Cem Concr Res. 2005;35(1):177–83.Bouasker M, Mounanga P, Turcry P, Loukili A, Khelidj A. Chemical shrinkage of cement pastes and mortars at very early age: effect of limestone filler and granular inclusions. Cem Concr Compos. 2008;30(1):13–22.Bentz DP. A review of early-age properties of cement-based materials. Cem Concr Res. 2008;38(2):196–204.Ozawa T. Controlled rate thermogravimetry. New usefulness of controlled rate thermogravimetry revealed by decomposition of polyimide. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2000;59:375–84.Ramachandran VS, Paroli RM, Beaudoin JJ, Delgado AH. Thermal analysis of construction materials. Building materials series. New York: Noyes Publications; 2003.Zanier A. High-resolution TG for the characterization of diesel fuel additives. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2001;64:377–84.Tobón JI, Payá J, Borrachero MV, Restrepo OJ. Mineralogical evolution of Portland cement blended with silica nanoparticles and its effect on mechanical strength. Constr Build Mater. 2012;36:736–42.Singh M, Waghmare S, Kumar V. Characterization of lime plasters used in 16th century Mughal Monument. J Archeol Sci. 2014;42:430–4.Majchrzak-Kuçeba I. Thermogravimetry applied to characterization of fly ash-based MCM-41 mesoporous materials. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012;107:911–21.Silva ACM, Gálico DA, Guerra RB, Legendre AO, Rinaldo D, Galhiane MS, Bannach G. Study of some volatile compounds evolved from the thermal decomposition of atenolol. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2014;115:2517–20.Rios-Fachal M, Gracia-Fernández C, López-Beceiro J, Gómez-Barreiro S, Tarrío-Saavedra J, Ponton A, Artiaga R. Effect of nanotubes on the thermal stability of polystyrene. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2013;113:481–7.Yamarte L, Paxman D, Begum S, Sarkar P, Chambers A. TG measurement of reactivity of candidate oxygen carrier materials. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2014;116:1301–7.Borrachero MV, Payá J, Bonilla M, Monzó J. The use of thermogravimetric analysis technique for the characterization of construction materials. The gypsum case. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2008;91(2):503–9.Tobón JI, Payá J, Borrachero MV, Soriano L, Restrepo OJ. Determination of the optimum parameters in the high resolution thermogravimetric analysis (HRTG) for cementitious materials. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2012;107:233–9.Kuzielova E, Žemlička M, Másilko, J, Palou, M.T. Effect of additives on the performance of Dyckerhoff cement, Class G, submitted to simulated hydrothermal curing. J Therm Anal Calorim. Accepted 29 Oct 2017Genc M, Genc ZK. Microencapsulated myristic acid–fly ash with TiO2 shell as a novel phase change material for building application. J Therm Anal Calorim. Accepted 24 Oct 2017.Singh M, Kumar SV, Waghmare SA. The composition and technology of the 3–4th century CE decorative earthen plaster of Pithalkhora caves, India. J Archeol Sci. 2016;7:224–37.Liu L, Liu Q, Cao Y, Pan WP. The isothermal studies of char-CO2 gasification using the high-pressure thermo-gravimetric method. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2015;120:1877–82.Majchrzak-Kuce I, Bukalak-Gaik D. Regeneration performance of metal–organic frameworks TG-vacuum tests. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2016;125:1461–6.Ion RM, Radovici C, Fierascu RC, Fierascu I. Thermal and mineralogical investigations of iron archaeological Materials. J Therm Anal Calorim. 2015;121:1247–53.Rupasinghe M, San Nicolas R, Mendis P, Sofi M, Ngo T. Investigation of strength and hydration characteristics in nano-silica incorporated cement paste. Cem Concr Compos. 2017;80:17–30.Esteves PL. On the hydration of water-entrained cement–silica systems: combined SEM, XRD and thermal analysis in cement pastes. Thermochim Acta. 2011;518:27–35.Riesen R. Adjustment of heating rate for maximum resolution in TG and TMA (MaxRes). J Therm Anal. 1998;53:365–74.Lim S, Mondal P. Micro- and nano-scale characterization to study the thermal degradation of cement-based materials. Mater Charact. 2014;92:15–25.Gill PS, Sauerbrunn SR, Crowe BS. High resolution thermogravimetry. J Therm Anal. 1992;38:255–66.Mounanga P, Khelidj A, Loukili A, Baroghel-Bouny V. Predicting Ca(OH)2 content and chemical shrinkage of hydrating cement pastes using analytical approach. Cem Concr Res. 2004;34:255–65.Zeng Q, Li K, Fen-chong T, Dangla P. Determination of cement hydration and pozzolanic reaction extents for fly-ash cement pastes. Constr Build Mater. 2012;27:560–9.Parrott LP, Geiker M, Gutteridge WA, Killoh D. Monitoring Portland cement hydration: Comparison of methods. Cem Concr Res. 1990;20:919–26.Hewlett PC. Lea’s chemistry of cement and concrete. 4th ed. Oxford: Elsevier Science & Technology Books; 2004.ASTM C305 Standard practice for mechanical mixing of hydraulic cement pastes and mortars of plastic consistency. ASTM International, West Conshohocken, PA; 2012.Taylor HF. Cement chemistry. 2nd ed. Westminster: Thomas Telford; 1997.Nadelman EI, Freas DJ, Kurtis KE. Nano- and microstructural characterization of Portland limestone cement paste. In: Nanotechnology in construction. Proceedings of NICOM 5. 2015. p. 87–92

Dual role of the exocyst in AMPA receptor targeting and insertion into the postsynaptic membrane

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102104/1/emboj7601065.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102104/2/emboj7601065-sup-0001.pd

Designing a broad-spectrum integrative approach for cancer prevention and treatment

Targeted therapies and the consequent adoption of "personalized" oncology have achieved notablesuccesses in some cancers; however, significant problems remain with this approach. Many targetedtherapies are highly toxic, costs are extremely high, and most patients experience relapse after a fewdisease-free months. Relapses arise from genetic heterogeneity in tumors, which harbor therapy-resistantimmortalized cells that have adopted alternate and compensatory pathways (i.e., pathways that are notreliant upon the same mechanisms as those which have been targeted). To address these limitations, aninternational task force of 180 scientists was assembled to explore the concept of a low-toxicity "broad-spectrum" therapeutic approach that could simultaneously target many key pathways and mechanisms. Using cancer hallmark phenotypes and the tumor microenvironment to account for the various aspectsof relevant cancer biology, interdisciplinary teams reviewed each hallmark area and nominated a widerange of high-priority targets (74 in total) that could be modified to improve patient outcomes. For thesetargets, corresponding low-toxicity therapeutic approaches were then suggested, many of which werephytochemicals. Proposed actions on each target and all of the approaches were further reviewed forknown effects on other hallmark areas and the tumor microenvironment. Potential contrary or procar-cinogenic effects were found for 3.9% of the relationships between targets and hallmarks, and mixedevidence of complementary and contrary relationships was found for 7.1%. Approximately 67% of therelationships revealed potentially complementary effects, and the remainder had no known relationship. Among the approaches, 1.1% had contrary, 2.8% had mixed and 62.1% had complementary relationships. These results suggest that a broad-spectrum approach should be feasible from a safety standpoint. Thisnovel approach has potential to be relatively inexpensive, it should help us address stages and types ofcancer that lack conventional treatment, and it may reduce relapse risks. A proposed agenda for futureresearch is offered

The contribution of Swiss scientists to the assessment of energy metabolism

Although Switzerland is considered a small country, it has its share in discoveries, inventions and developments for the assessment of energy metabolism. This includes seminal contributions to respiratory and metabolic physiology and to devices for measuring energy expenditure by direct and indirect calorimetry in vivo in humans and small animals (as well as in vitro in organs/tissues), for the purpose of evaluating the basic nutritional requirements. A strong momentum came during World War II when it was necessary to evaluate the energy requirements of soldiers protecting the country by assessing their energy expenditure, as well as to determine the nutritional needs of the Swiss civil population in time of war when food rationing was necessary to ensure national neutrality and independence. A further impetus came in the 1970s at the start of the obesity epidemics, toward a better understanding of the metabolic basis of obesity, ranging from the development of whole-body concepts to molecular mechanisms. In a trip down memory lane, this review focuses on some of the earlier leading Swiss scientists who have contributed to a better understanding of the field

Rehabilitation versus surgical reconstruction for non-acute anterior cruciate ligament injury (ACL SNNAP): a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a common debilitating injury that can cause instability of the knee. We aimed to investigate the best management strategy between reconstructive surgery and non-surgical treatment for patients with a non-acute ACL injury and persistent symptoms of instability. Methods: We did a pragmatic, multicentre, superiority, randomised controlled trial in 29 secondary care National Health Service orthopaedic units in the UK. Patients with symptomatic knee problems (instability) consistent with an ACL injury were eligible. We excluded patients with meniscal pathology with characteristics that indicate immediate surgery. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) by computer to either surgery (reconstruction) or rehabilitation (physiotherapy but with subsequent reconstruction permitted if instability persisted after treatment), stratified by site and baseline Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score—4 domain version (KOOS4). This management design represented normal practice. The primary outcome was KOOS4 at 18 months after randomisation. The principal analyses were intention-to-treat based, with KOOS4 results analysed using linear regression. This trial is registered with ISRCTN, ISRCTN10110685, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02980367. Findings: Between Feb 1, 2017, and April 12, 2020, we recruited 316 patients. 156 (49%) participants were randomly assigned to the surgical reconstruction group and 160 (51%) to the rehabilitation group. Mean KOOS4 at 18 months was 73·0 (SD 18·3) in the surgical group and 64·6 (21·6) in the rehabilitation group. The adjusted mean difference was 7·9 (95% CI 2·5–13·2; p=0·0053) in favour of surgical management. 65 (41%) of 160 patients allocated to rehabilitation underwent subsequent surgery according to protocol within 18 months. 43 (28%) of 156 patients allocated to surgery did not receive their allocated treatment. We found no differences between groups in the proportion of intervention-related complications. Interpretation: Surgical reconstruction as a management strategy for patients with non-acute ACL injury with persistent symptoms of instability was clinically superior and more cost-effective in comparison with rehabilitation management. Funding: The UK National Institute for Health Research Health Technology Assessment Programme