Reduction of seafood processing wastewater using technologies enhanced by swim–bed technology

The increasing growth of the seafood processing industries considerably requires more industrial process activities and water consumption. It is estimated that approximately 10–40 m3 of wastewater is generated from those industries for processing one-tonne of raw materials. Due to limitations and regulations in natural resources utilization, a suitable and systematic wastewater treatment plant is very important to meet rigorous discharge standards. As a result of food waste biodegradability, the biological treatment and some extent of swim-bed technology, including a novel acryl-fibre (biofilm) material might be used effectively to meet the effluent discharge criteria. This chapter aims to develop understanding on current problems and production of the seafood wastewater regarding treatment efficiency and methods of treatment

Human stomach microbiota: Effects on health and disease

The gut microbiota is a complex ecological community, consisting of trillions of microbes which include bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa. The stomach was previously considered as a sterile site uninhabited by microbes due to its hostile environmental conditions. Breaking this concept, Helicobacter pylori was the first pathogen reported to inhabit the stomach. Recent studies have suggested that the stomach harbours transient as well as certain commensal bacterial and fungal species. The five major microbial phyla in the stomach have been identified as Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Fusobacteria and Proteobacteria. The composition of gastric microbiota is dynamic and is affected by several factors.  These include age group, dietary habits, medication use, inflammation of gastric mucosa and H. pylori colonization.  Further, the role of host genetics has recently been studied in maintaining the stomach microbiota. Mutations in host genes may affect the host’s immune response towards commensal bacteria and reduce their number and diversity. The essential multiple roles of gut microorganisms include maintaining homeostasis in the gut, contributing to immune function and extraction of nutrients and energy from our diets.  Loss of the normal balance between the gut microbiota and host has been associated with several abnormal conditions and disorders such as obesity, malnutrition, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), neurological disorders, and cancer. In the stomach, the interaction between H. pylori and the gastric microbiota can also influence gastric dis­ease progression. Further studies should focus on addressing the role of gastric dysbiosis in health and disease. Identifying gastric microbiota is essential to understand how the gut microbiota and H. pylori affect health and disease.</p

Analysis of laser radiation using the Nonlinear Fourier transform

Modern high-power lasers exhibit a rich diversity of nonlinear dynamics, often featuring nontrivial co-existence of linear dispersive waves and coherent structures. While the classical Fourier method adequately describes extended dispersive waves, the analysis of time-localised and/or non-stationary signals call for more nuanced approaches. Yet, mathematical methods that can be used for simultaneous characterisation of localized and extended fields are not yet well developed. Here, we demonstrate how the Nonlinear Fourier transform (NFT) based on the Zakharov-Shabat spectral problem can be applied as a signal processing tool for representation and analysis of coherent structures embedded into dispersive radiation. We use full-field, real-time experimental measurements of mode-locked pulses to compute the nonlinear pulse spectra. For the classification of lasing regimes, we present the concept of eigenvalue probability distributions. We present two field normalisation approaches, and show the NFT can yield an effective model of the laser radiation under appropriate signal normalisation conditions

ULK1 inhibition overcomes compromised antigen presentation and restores antitumor immunity in LKB1-mutant lung cancer

Inactivating mutations in LKB1/STK11 are present in roughly 20% of nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and portend poor response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Unexpectedly, we found that LKB1 deficiency correlated with elevated tumor mutational burden (TMB) in NSCLCs from nonsmokers and genetically engineered mouse models, despite the frequent association between high-TMB and anti-PD-1 treatment efficacy. However, LKB1 deficiency also suppressed antigen processing and presentation, which are associated with compromised immunoproteasome activity and increased autophagic flux. Immunoproteasome activity and antigen presentation were restored by inhibiting autophagy through targeting the ATG1/ULK1 pathway. Accordingly, ULK1 inhibition synergized with PD-1 antibody blockade, provoking effector T-cell expansion and tumor regression in Lkb1-mutant tumor models. This study reveals an interplay between the immunoproteasome and autophagic catabolism in antigen processing and immune recognition, and proposes the therapeutic potential of dual ULK1 and PD-1 inhibition in LKB1-mutant NSCLC as a strategy to enhance antigen presentation and to promote antitumor immunity

Estimate of the chimney maximum temperature and flow rate during the Pile 1 fire, Windscale, October 1957

The temperature and flow rate are estimated of chimney gases emitted from the accidental fire in the Pile 1 nuclear reactor at the Windscale Works in October 1957. These are used in the study of the atmospheric dispersion of the chimney plume and of the radionuclides in it. The accident was one of great physical complexity, compounded by the fact that the number of installed sensors was, by modern standards, rather limited. Sophisticated computer modelling (CFD) is now available. However, the scope for validation in a one-off accident is limited. The mathematical simulation of the accident presented here is based on physically acceptable assumptions, chosen to represent a realistic worst case. These give a chimney gas temperature of 577 °C and a corresponding flow rate of 416 kg s-1. The uncertainties in these quantities are assessed in a sensitivity study

Sri Lankan Journal of Anaesthesiology 17(1) : 42 – 44 (2009) AUDIT AUDIT ON ORGANOPHOSPHATE POISONING REQUIRING INTENSIVE CARE UNIT ADMISSION

Organophosphates (OP) inhibits both cholinesterase and pseudo cholinesterase activities. The inhibition of acetyl cholinesterase causes accumulation of acetyl choline at synapses and over stimulation of muscarinic and cholinergic activities. The mortality rate is 3-25 % (2). Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is life saving. The clinical course of OP is very severe and may require intensive care management. Materials and methods: A retrospective audit was performed of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admissions at General Hospital Nuwara Eliya for a period of six months from 01 st of October 2007 to 31 st of March 2008. 31 patients were included. The diagnosis was made from th

HIDDEN SOCIAL ISSUES AND UNSATISFIED HUMAN NEEDS ADDRESSED THROUGH SOCIAL NETWORKS: A SPECIAL STUDY ON FACEBOOK

Globalization and advances in information technology created a global village, where there is no man who is isolated from the larger society. Social network is a global phenomenon which touches thousands and millions of people’s lives through the world. From such social networks facebook won the first priority in many people’s lives including Sri Lankans. “Why people are so attached to the facebook?”, was the very first question raised by the research team, through the primary research it was revealed that facebook satisfied many human needs apart from need for belongings, love and care. General objective was to identify different levels of human needs satisfied through the facebook applying to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs theory. Specific objective was to identify hidden social issues that revealed through the above unsatisfied needs. Population of the research consisted of facebook users of Sri Lanka. Research team used cluster sampling method and selected 300 facebook users as the sample. Research team used three main methods to collect information that was through online surveys,observations and interviews. Qualitative and secondary data were collected through newspapers, magazines, online articles, blogs etc. The research started on July 2010 and completed at the end of September 2010.Limited time period to collect data was the main limitation of the research. The researchers apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of need theory as the model. 20 questions were raised in the survey covering all the 5 levels of human needs. It was concluded that working parents, late marriages, increasing divorce rate, unsatisfied sex and family life, busy working style, migration of educated population and loneliness are some of the critical hidden social issues in current Sri Lankan scenario. Key Words: Social Networks, Human Needs, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Need Theory, Social IssuesFor full paper: [email protected]

Aspergillus species: An emerging pathogen in onychomycosis among diabetics

Introduction: Approximately, 33% patients with diabetes are afflicted with onychomycosis. In the past, nondermatophyte molds have been regarded as opportunistic pathogens; recently, Aspergillus species are considered as emerging pathogens of toenail infections. In Sri Lanka, the prevalence of Aspergillus species in onychomycosis among diabetics is not well documented. Objective: To determine the proportion of Aspergillus onychomycosis, risk factors and knowledge among diabetics. Materials and Methods: This was descriptive cross-sectional study. Three hundred diabetic patients were included. Clinical examinations of patients' toenails were performed by a clinical microbiologist. Laboratory identification was done, and pathogens were identified to the species level by morpho-physiological methods. All inferential statistics were tested at P < 0.05. Results: Among clinically suspected patients, 85% (255/300) were mycologically confirmed to have onychomycosis. Aspergillus species were most commonly isolated n = 180 (71%) followed by dermatophytes, yeasts, and other molds n = 75 (29%). Of the patients having Aspergillus onychomycosis, 149 (83%) were in the > age group. In men, Aspergillus onycomycosis was seen in 82%. Among patients who had Aspergillus nail infection, 114 (63%) had diabetes for a period of > years. Among patients who were engaged in agricultural activities, 77% were confirmed to have infected nails due to Aspergillus species. Conclusion: Aspergillus niger was the most common pathogen isolated from toenail infection. Aspergillus species should be considered as an important pathogen in toenail onychomycosis in diabetic patients. Risk factors associated with Aspergillus onychomycosis were age, gender, duration of diabetes, length of exposure to fungi, and occupation

Investigating the rigour of research findings in experimental studies assessing the effects of breaking up prolonged sitting - extended scoping review

Available online 15 May 2020ObjectivesSedentary behaviour research is a relatively new field, much of which has emerged since the widespread acceptance of clinical trial registration. The aim of this study was to investigate the trial registration and related issues in studies investigating the effect of frequent activity interruptions to prolonged sitting-time.MethodsSecondary analysis of a scoping review including systematic searches of databases and trial registries. We included experimental studies investigating the effects of frequent activity interruptions to prolonged sitting-time.ResultsWe identified 32 trials published in 45 papers. Only 16 (50%) trials were registered, with all 16 trials being completed and published. Of the unregistered trials, we identified three (19%) for which similarities in the sample size and participant demographics across papers was suggestive of duplicate publication. Identification of potential duplicate publications was difficult for the remaining 13 (81%). Results from 53 (76%) of the 70 registered outcomes were published, but 11 (69%) registered trials reported results from additional outcomes not prospectively registered. A total of 46 different outcomes (out of 53 reported outcome measures, similar measures were collated) were reported across all trials, 31 (67%) of which were collected in ≤2 trials.ConclusionsWe found direct evidence of trial registration issues in experimental trials of breaking up sitting-time. The lack of prospective registration of all trials, and the large number of outcomes measured per trial are key considerations for future research in this field. These issues are unlikely to be confined to the field of sedentary behaviour research.Coralie English, Ishanka Weerasekara, Anjelica Carlos, Sebastien Chastin, Gary Crowfoot, Claire Fitzsimons, Anne Forster, Elizabeth Holliday, Heidi Janssen, Paul Mackie, Gillian Mead, David Dunsta

Si doped GaAs/AlGaAs terahertz detector and phonon effect on the responsivity

Abstract Terahertz detection capability of an n-type heterojunction interfacial work function internal photoemission (HEIWIP) detector is demonstrated. Threshold frequency, f 0 , of 3.2 THz (93 lm) was obtained by using n-type GaAs emitter doped to 1 · 10 18 cm À3 and Al 0.04 Ga 0.96 As single barrier structure. The detector shows a broad spectral response from 30 to 3.2 THz (10-93 lm) with peak responsivity of 6.5 A/W at 7.1 THz under a forward bias field of 0.7 kV/cm at 6 K. The peak quantum efficiency and peak detectivity are $19$5.5 · 10 8 Jones, respectively under a bias field of 0.7 kV/cm at 6 K. In addition, the detector can be operated up to 25 K