The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer treated in a Tertiary health care facility in Southern Sri Lanka

Depression is a common co-morbidity of cancer. Further, depression and cancer are significant public health issues. Depressive symptoms are found to cause deterioration of quality of life (QoL), leading to physical disabilities/impairments, poor drug adherence, prolonged hospitalization, shortened survival time and risk of suicides.  This study identified the prevalence of depressive symptoms and explored correlates of depressive symptoms among patients with cancer in Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 393 cancer patients undergoing treatment at a tertiary care hospital in Southern Sri Lanka. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression scale (CES-D) were used to collect information on prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms. Basic descriptive statistics, independent t-test, and Pearson correlation coefficients were used in the statistical analysis. The mean age of the sample was 56 ±11.9 years and 59% were women. Elevated depressive symptoms (CES-D score ≥ 16) were found in 8.4% of the patients (95% CI: 5.3%, 10.7%).  Patients who reported having any form of impairments scored high on CES-D, compared to those with no physical impairments (p < 0.01). Patients with low income as well as those with low education had higher scores in CES-D scale. Depressive symptomatology appears to be a considerable health issue in this group.  Correlates of depressive symptoms include poor income, low education level, and self-reported physical impairments; these correlates need to be considered in psychological interventions of patients with cancer.         KEYWORDS: Cancer, CES-D, depressive symptoms, impairments, Sri Lanka &nbsp

A Model Based on Mechanics to Predict Settlements in Bioreactor Landfills

Prediction of waste settlement behavior during the construction phase of a landfill is vital to effective functioning of leachate recirculation systems and gas collection pipe network, yet prediction of waste settlement is complex and difficult to perform. Few models, are currently available which can be used to calculate landfill settlement of the entire waste thickness after closure without accounting for variation in density and other parameters with depth. By starting after closure, these models do not account for settlements during construction. The use of entire depth does not allow for the calculation of strains at different depths. When landfills are operated as bioreactors, waste decomposition and gas production are accelerated making the problem more complicated. Rapid degradation results in a significant impact on waste properties, settlement and stability. Accurate prediction of this rapid change in volume is of importance in estimating airspace, planning construction sequence, designing covers as well as planning for expansions. This paper focuses on the behavior of the density and settlements of waste with time and space and proposes a new mathematical model based on mechanics which is capable of computing settlements during construction of landfills. The impact of leachate recirculation and different waste types on settlement behavior of a landfill is also accounted in the proposed model

Influential Factors for ICT Innovations in Sri Lanka University-Industry Collaboration: A Systematic Literature Review

A university is a center of knowledge creation, and industry can be a vibrant place for innovation. This paper examines the key factors influencing university-industry collaboration (UIC) innovation catalysts in Sri Lanka. The study employed a systematic procedure based on the Grounded Theory to investigate the factors contributing to the success of UICs, and attributes for innovation capacities. The investigation was guided by the research question: what factors of UICs influence ICT innovations in Sri Lanka? A total of 41 research papers was selected from Science Direct, Scopus, and Ebscohost based on the availability of full text, and their relevance for the research question. The results of the study revealed that management directives, financial support, policies, proximity dimension, and heterogeneity are key factors for a successful UIC

Tuning the properties of complex transparent conducting oxides: role of crystal symmetry, chemical composition and carrier generation

The electronic properties of single- and multi-cation transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are investigated using first-principles density functional approach. A detailed comparison of the electronic band structure of stoichiometric and oxygen deficient In$_2$O$_3$, $\alpha$- and $\beta$-Ga$_2$O$_3$, rock salt and wurtzite ZnO, and layered InGaZnO$_4$ reveals the role of the following factors which govern the transport and optical properties of these TCO materials: (i) the crystal symmetry of the oxides, including both the oxygen coordination and the long-range structural anisotropy; (ii) the electronic configuration of the cation(s), specifically, the type of orbital(s) -- $s$, $p$ or $d$ -- which form the conduction band; and (iii) the strength of the hybridization between the cation's states and the p-states of the neighboring oxygen atoms. The results not only explain the experimentally observed trends in the electrical conductivity in the single-cation TCO, but also demonstrate that multicomponent oxides may offer a way to overcome the electron localization bottleneck which limits the charge transport in wide-bandgap main-group metal oxides. Further, the advantages of aliovalent substitutional doping -- an alternative route to generate carriers in a TCO host -- are outlined based on the electronic band structure calculations of Sn, Ga, Ti and Zr-doped InGaZnO$_4$. We show that the transition metal dopants offer a possibility to improve conductivity without compromising the optical transmittance

Heme oxygenase-1 protects against Alzheimer’s amyloid-β1-42 induced toxicity via carbon monoxide production

Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an inducible enzyme up-regulated in Alzheimer‟s disease (AD), catabolises heme to biliverdin, Fe2+ and carbon monoxide (CO). CO can protect neurones from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis by inhibiting Kv2.1 channels, which mediate cellular K+ efflux as an early step in the apoptotic cascade. Since apoptosis contributes to the neuronal loss associated with amyloid β peptide (Aβ) toxicity in AD, we investigated the protective effects of HO-1 and CO against Aβ1-42 toxicity in SH-SY5Y cells, employing cells stably transfected with empty vector or expressing the cellular prion protein, PrPc, and rat primary hippocampal neurons. Aβ1-42 (containing protofibrils) caused a concentrationdependent decrease in cell viability, attributable at least in part to induction of apoptosis, with the PrPc expressing cells showing greater susceptibility to Aβ1-42 toxicity. Pharmacological induction or genetic over-expression of HO-1 significantly ameliorated the effects of Aβ1-42. The CO-donor CORM-2 protected cells against Aβ1-42 toxicity in a concentration-dependent manner. Electrophysiological studies revealed no differences in the outward current pre- and post-Aβ1-42 treatment suggesting that K+ channel activity is unaffected in these cells. Instead, Aβ toxicity was reduced by the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine, and by the CaMKKII inhibitor, STO-609. Aβ also activated the downstream kinase, AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK). CO prevented this activation of AMPK. Our findings indicate that HO-1 protects against Aβ toxicity via production of CO. Protection does not arise from inhibition of apoptosis-associated K+ efflux, but rather by inhibition of AMPK activation, which has been recently implicated in the toxic effects of Aβ. These data provide a novel, beneficial effect of CO which adds to its growing potential as a therapeutic agent

Review on Photomicrography based Full Blood Count (FBC) Testing and Recent Advancements

With advancements in related sub-fields, research on photomicrography in life science is emerging and this is a review on its application towards human full blood count testing which is a primary test in medical practices. For a prolonged period of time, analysis of blood samples is the basis for bio medical observations of living creatures. Cell size, shape, constituents, count, ratios are few of the features identified using DIP based analysis and these features provide an overview of the state of human body which is important in identifying present medical conditions and indicating possible future complications. In addition, functionality of the immune system is observed using results of blood tests. In FBC tests, identification of different blood cell types and counting the number of cells of each type is required to obtain results. Literature discuss various techniques and methods and this article presents an insightful review on human blood cell morphology, photomicrography, digital image processing of photomicrographs, feature extraction and classification, and recent advances. Integration of emerging technologies such as microfluidics, micro-electromechanical systems, and artificial intelligence based image processing algorithms and classifiers with cell sensing have enabled exploration of novel research directions in blood testing applications.

Resistance of Dynamin-related Protein 1 Oligomers to Disassembly Impairs Mitophagy, Resulting in Myocardial Inflammation and Heart Failure

We have reported previously that a missense mutation in the mitochondrial fission gene Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) underlies the Python mouse model of monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of the C452F mutation on Drp1 protein function and to define the cellular sequelae leading to heart failure in the Python monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy model. We found that the C452F mutation increased Drp1 GTPase activity. The mutation also conferred resistance to oligomer disassembly by guanine nucleotides and high ionic strength solutions. In a mouse embryonic fibroblast model, Drp1 C452F cells exhibited abnormal mitochondrial morphology and defective mitophagy. Mitochondria in C452F mouse embryonic fibroblasts were depolarized and had reduced calcium uptake with impaired ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation. In the Python heart, we found a corresponding progressive decline in oxidative phosphorylation with age and activation of sterile inflammation. As a corollary, enhancing autophagy by exposure to a prolonged low-protein diet improved cardiac function in Python mice. In conclusion, failure of Drp1 disassembly impairs mitophagy, leading to a downstream cascade of mitochondrial depolarization, aberrant calcium handling, impaired ATP synthesis, and activation of sterile myocardial inflammation, resulting in heart failure

Dietary fibers, starch fractions and nutritional composition of finger millet varieties cultivated in Sri Lanka

Soluble, insoluble and total dietary fiber contents, rapidly and slowly digestible starch contents, arabinoxylans, β-glucans, fructans, resistant starch, amylose and total sugar contents, minerals and trace elements compositions and proximate compositions of three finger millet varieties, namely Ravi, Rawana and Oshadha, were evaluated using standard protocols. There were no significant differences (P≥ 0.05) among the rapidly digestible starch, arabinoxylans, β-glucans, fructans, amylose, total sugar, protein, crude fat and crude fiber contents of Ravi, Rawana and Oshadha varieties. Total dietary fiber contents varied between 13.01% (Ravi) and 13.79% (Oshadha). Slowly digestible starch contents ranged from 43.38% (Ravi) to 49.15% (Oshadha) and resistant starch contents ranged from 3.75% (Ravi) to 4.58% (Oshadha). Ash content of Ravi (3.22%) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than ash contents of other two varieties. Average sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium, iron, zinc and phosphorous contents of three finger millet varieties were 12.04, 141.78, 407.15, 345.62, 3.49, 1.89 and 331.07 mg/100 g, respectively. Findings of the present study indicated that studied finger millet varieties were good sources of dietary fibers (including resistant starch) as well as minerals and trace elements (especially potassium, calcium, phosphorous and iron) when compared to commonly consumed cereals such as rice and wheat