Molecular and hormonal studies on molecules involved In the maintenance of uterine epithelial polarity in the rat

Polarised epithelial cells are characterised by the organisation of the plasma membrane lipids and proteins into distinct domains. All these domains undergo many changes during the transition from a non-receptive uterine epithelial cell to one that is receptive to blastocyst implantation, despite the changes that these cells undergo they still retain a polarised epithelial phenotype. Several aspects of cell polarity were investigated in this thesis. Caveolin and cavin proteins were investigated to understand their involvement in membrane curvature as well as membrane lipid and cholesterol polarity. Junctional complexes were studied through the localisation and expression of afadin in UECs during early pregnancy. Filamin A (FLNA), an actin crosslinking protein was studied to understand the role that the actin cytoskeleton plays in the maintenance of cell polarity. At the time of implantation when a number of structures are altered or absent, the apical plasma membrane is rigid due to the elevated membrane cholesterol and FLNA associated actin networks, while the basolateral plasma membrane is less rigid, enabling caveolae formation. Afadin at this time is associated with the tight junction, where it may maintain distinct apical and basolateral domains. The findings of this thesis contribute to our understanding of uterine receptivity

The Concept of a Smart Wind Turbine System

The concept of a smart wind turbine with telescopic blades was analyzed using a mathematical model based on the blade element – momentum theory. The telescopic blade concept uses the idea of extending the turbine blades when wind speeds fall below rated level, hence increasing the swept area, and thus maintaining a relatively high power output. It is shown for a typical site, that the annual energy output of such a wind turbine that could double its blade length, could be twice that of a corresponding turbine with fixed length blades. From a cost analysis, it is shown that the concept would be feasible if the cost of the rotor could be kept less than 4.3 times the cost of a standard rotor with fixed length blades. Given the telescopic blade turbine system exhibits a more-or-less linear maximum power curve, as opposed to a non-linear curve for the standard turbine, an innovative hybrid mechanical-electrical power conversion system is proposed

Parameter identification of BIPT system using chaotic-enhanced fruit fly optimization algorithm

Bidirectional inductive power transfer (BIPT) system facilitates contactless power transfer between two sides and across an air-gap, through weak magnetic coupling. Typically, this system is nonlinear high order system which includes nonlinear switch components and resonant networks, developing of accurate model is a challenging task. In this paper, a novel technique for parameter identification of a BIPT system is presented by using chaotic-enhanced fruit fly optimization algorithm (CFOA). The fruit fly optimization algorithm (FOA) is a new meta-heuristic technique based on the swarm behavior of the fruit fly. This paper proposes a novel CFOA, which employs chaotic sequence to enhance the global optimization capacity of original FOA. The parameter identification of the BIPT system is formalized as a multi-dimensional optimization problem, and an objective function is established minimizing the errors between the estimated and measured values. All the 11 parameters of this system (Lpi, LT, Lsi, Lso, CT, Cs, M, Rpi, RT, Rsi and Rso) can be identified simultaneously using measured input–output data. Simulations show that the proposed parameter identification technique is robust to measurements noise and variation of operation condition and thus it is suitable for practical application

Impact of Vehicular Traffic on Vertebrate Fauna in Horton Plains and Yala National Parks of Sri Lanka: Some Implications for Conservation and Management

Abstract: Impacts of roadkills are extensively documented in developed nations. Only a handful of studies on road mortality has emerged from developing nations where tourism and rural development have led to an expansion of transportation networks. To fill such gaps, we conducted a survey to document roadkills in and around two tourism-heavy national parks of Sri Lanka and identified factors that contribute to road mortality. Based on a questionnaire, we interviewed 68 local villagers, 56 local and 59 foreign visitors, and 57 safari drivers to document their opportunistic observations on roadkills, their awareness about roadkills, and to understand potential causes of roadkills. We found 47 roadkilled vertebrate species at both parks; among these, 19 are threatened and 20 are endemic. Our research revealed that herpetofauna were killed the most. We concluded that increased visitation, high-speed driving, lack of awareness, and poor law enforcement as the likely causes of roadkills at both parks. As mitigatory actions, we proposed posting speed limits, increasing awareness of the tourists and safari drivers, limiting vehicle access to the parks, seasonal or night-time access restrictions, and strict enforcement of the speed limits inside national parks

In Situ Measuring Partition Coefficient at Intact Nanoemulsions: A New Application of Single-Entity Electrochemistry

We report a new application of the single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) to in situ measure a partition coefficient at intact nanoemulsions (NEs). The partition coefficient at intact NEs is the most crucial physicochemical property to determine the uptake of delivery molecules inside NEs. It, however, has not been unequivocally elucidated by currently existing techniques based on ex situ measurements. Herein, we apply the single-entity electrochemistry (SEE) to directly and quantitatively measure the partition coefficient at NEs in situ. In this work, we use NEs featured with amphiphilic triblock copolymer (Pluronic F-127) as a model system to extract/preconcentrate 2-aminobiphenyl (2-ABP) dissolved in the water and demonstrate a new application of SEE to in situ quantitatively estimate the amounts of 2-ABP distributed into each intact NE. Our SEE measurements reveal that the partitioning is governed by extraction of 2-ABP inside NEs rather than its adsorption on the NE surface, and this extraction is remarkably efficient with up to ∼8 orders of magnitude of the preconcentration factor, thus leading to the unprecedentedly large partition coefficient of 1.9 (±1.4) × 1010. This result implies that not only the thermodynamic distribution but also the intermolecular interaction of extracted compounds inside NEs could play a significant role in the apparent partition coefficient (P = 1.9 (±1.4) × 1010). The experimentally determined partition coefficient was validated by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with showing a stabilizing role of intermolecular interaction in the partitioned system. We further verified our methodology with other compounds exhibiting aromatic properties, e.g., ferrocenemethanol. Significantly, our new approach can be readily applicable to investigate practical NEs commercially marketed for drug, food, and cosmetics

Towards ultralow detection limits of aromatic toxicants in water using pluronic nanoemulsions and single-entity electrochemistry

We demonstrate a new electroanalytical technique using nanoemulsions (NEs) as a nanoextractor combined with single entity electrochemistry (SEE) to separate, preconcentrate analytes from bulk media, and even detect them in situ, enabling ultratrace level analysis. This approach is based on our hypothesis that the custom-designed NEs would enable to effectively scavenge compounds from bulk media. Herein, we use Pluronic F-127 functionalized NEs to extract, preconcentrate target analytes e.g., ferrocene derivatives as a model aromatic toxicant dissolved in the water, and employ SEE to in situ detect and quantitatively estimate analytes extracted in individual NEs. Extraction was markedly efficient to reach ∼8 orders of magnitude of preconcentration factor under the true equilibrium, thereby enabling ultratrace level analysis with a detection limit of ∼0.2 ppb. The key step to attain high sensitivity in our measurements was to modulate the total amount of added NEs respect to the total volume of bulk solution, thereby controlling the extracted amount of analytes in each NE. Our approach is readily applicable to investigate other aromatic toxicants dissolved in the water, thus detecting hazardous carcinogen, 2-aminobiphenyl in the water up to ∼0.1 ppb level. Given the excellent detection performance as well as the broad applicability for ubiquitous aromatic contaminants, the combination of NEs with SEE offers great prospects as a sensor for environmental applications

Can Austroeupatorium inulifolium Invasion Favour Tree Species Establishment on Highly-Degraded Man-made Grasslands

It is well known that invasive species alter vegetation structure and composition, but most ofthe evidence to support this claim come from natural ecosystems. In many instances, thesestudies reported negative consequences on these natural habitats. Within last few years, thehighly degraded grasslands at the Knuckles Conservation Area (KCA) have rapidly invadedby Austroeupatorium inulifolium, a notorious invasive species. The present study was aimedat investigating the impacts of Austroeupatorium on grassland communities, and also to seeany positive role in forest expansion process towards these invasive grasslands by borderingforest remnants.A complete vegetation sampling was carried out in 3 grassland communities having differentlevels of invasion; grasslands densely-invaded with Austroeupatorium (HIG), and lessdenselyinvaded (LIG) and the forest-grassland edge (FGE). For each grassland community,nine randomly placed 4 m2 quadrates were used to enumerate the vegetation. Anothersampling was carried out using two forest-grassland edge (FGE) communities; forest remnantbordered by LIG (FGE- LIG) and forest remnant bordered by HIG (FGE- HIG). At each site,5 linear quadrates (3 m x 12 m) were placed parallel to the FGE at different distances; 0(edge), 5 and 10 m away from the edge towards the grassland and towards the forest interior.Six such transects were sampled for each FGE category.A total of 30 species have been identified belonging to 20 families in HIG while 21 species(belonged to 14 families) and 14 species (belonged to 9 families) were identified from LIGand FGE respectively. Tree saplings (4 species) were recorded only in HIG. The two edgehabitats showed somewhat different vegetation composition. Of the 182 and 430 individualsof tree saplings encountered at FGE-LIG and FGE-HIG respectively, majority of them werefound in quadrates laid inside the forest (76 and 88% respectively). Abundance and richnessof tree saplings were significantly higher at 10 m towards the forest interior bordered by HIGthan that of LIG.Present results suggested that Austroeupatorium invasion has a facilitative effect on treeseedling establishment probably through enhanced shading effect and improved edaphicconditions. The results also suggest that Austroeupatorium invasion has the potential tochange the community structure in forest-grassland edges which eventually influence thevegetation community in the forest interior, at least up to 10 m. The facilitative effect ofAustroeupatorium invasion on the forest tree establishment needs further studies to verify itslong-term effect on these grasslands.

Does Over-Dominance of Bambusa bambos alter the Abundance and Composition of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungal Community?

Plants have the potential to modify soil biological properties through root exudates and litter inputs. Bambusa bambos (L) Voss., a native bamboo, has been expanding its range in Intermediate and dry zone forests in Sri Lanka. With synchronised flowering and death cycles, bamboos have shown the potential to modify forest dynamics. No study has been attempted so far to evaluate its impacts on biological properties of forest soils. The current study assessed the impacts of population expansion of B. bambos on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) by conducting a comparative study with the help of bamboo-dominated (BD) and non-bamboo (NB) forest patches in the Intermediate Zone, Sri Lanka. The study sites are located in Moragahakanda in the Central Province of Sri Lanka. Two sites (located 4 km apart from each other) were selected; one dominated by bamboo (BD) and the other with no bamboo (NB). Eight composite soil samples (from a depth of 0-20 cm) were analysed for soil moisture content (%) and microbial biomass Carbon (MBC %). Wet sieving and decanting method was used to quantify the AMF spores. Different morphotypes were identified using spore wall characteristics. The results revealed significantly higher soil moisture in BD than in NB while MBC% showed no significant difference. A relatively higher total spore count (2,923) was reported in BD compared to NB (2,776). BD forests also demonstrated significantly higher mean spore abundance (≈ 500/100g soil) compared to that in NB forests (≈100/100g soil), with higher relative contribution from largest spores (125 μm). The AMF richness was relatively low in BD forest (15) than in NB (18), with 14 morphotypes present in both forest types. Shannon-Wiener index and evenness were relatively higher in NB (2.38 and 0.3) in comparison to BD (2.24 and 0.28). B. bambos has shown the potential to increase the AMF abundance with no impact on its richness and composition. Higher AMF abundance may possibly due to favourable micro-habitat conditions at BD compared to NB. Identification of such changes is crucial to introduce measures for conservation and restoration of these sensitive forests.Keywords: Native bamboos, AMF, Rapid spread, Bambusa bambos, Sri Lank