Coconut breeding in Sri Lanka:a review

Work done by Coconut Research Institute, Sri Lanka, on the genetics and breeding of the coconut palm from 1930 to 1980 is described.It involves studies on; mass selection methods, selection differential, progeny trials, inbreeding depression, estimation of genetic parameters, construction selection indices and varietal hybridization.Two improved varieties CRIC 65 have been produced. An isolated seed garden was established for the large scale prodcution os seed of the improved varieties

The history of healthcare facilities management services: a UK perspective on infection control

© 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: The history of the development of non-clinical services in infection control (IC) dates back to the pre-modern era. There is evidence of health-care facility management (HFM) services in Roman military hospitals. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Christian beliefs and teaching shaped the development of HFM in monastic hospitals. It was not until the late Victorian era that the link between HFM services and diseases caused by “miasma”, or bad air, became established. The discovery of bacteria in the modern scientific era reduced the level of importance previously attached to non-clinical causes of infections. Today, in the NHS, HFM services continue to be treated as though they had no real role to play in IC. This paper aims to collate historical and epidemiological evidence to show the link between HFM and IC. Design/methodology/approach: The evidence gathered in this research paper is primarily based on an in-depth review of research from a wide range of sources. A “within-study literature analysis” was conducted to synthesise the research materials. This involved the application of “between-source triangulation” to verify the quality of the information contained in the studies, and “between-source complementarity” to provide an in-depth elaboration of the historical facts. Findings: Historical and epidemiological evidence shows that HFM services such as cleaning, waste management, catering, laundry and maintenance continue to play a crucial role in IC. This is corroborated by evidence gathered from the work of renowned pioneers in the field of IC. However, reforms in the NHS have failed to consider this, as HFM services have been largely fragmented through different partnership arrangements. Practical implications: Among many other things, this research raises the profile of HFM staff in relation to the issue of IC in hospitals. It presents convincing evidence to show that the relationship between the clinical and non-clinical domains in controlling infections in hospitals has a long history. The findings of this research give HFM staff invaluable information about the significant role of their profession in the control of infections in hospitals. Originality/value: This is one of the few studies examining the historical development of HFM services, as well as their contribution to IC. Other work in this area has mainly been framed from a clinical health-care perspective

Assessing the Risks of Dampness and Mould Growth in Renovated Properties

A large portion of the UK housing stock was built before the introduction of the 1989’s building regulations in which insulated cavity walls became mandatory. It is estimated that 65% of the UK housing stock have uninsulated walls and 49% have single glazed leaky windows making them inefficient in terms of energy performance. There have been great efforts during the recent years to improve the quality and energy performance of such buildings through retrofitting/refurbishment not only to improve the living standards of their occupants but also to achieve UK’s carbon emission targets for 2050. Refurbishing such buildings to improve their quality/energy performance may, at the same time, increase the risk of poor indoor air quality (IAQ), condensation, dampness, and mould growth in these buildings. Many refurbished housing stock in the UK are facing similar problems. Damp and mould issues affect between 30-50% of new or refurbished buildings. There is therefore a need for appropriate design strategies not only to improve the quality and thermal performances of such buildings but also to reduce the aforementioned risks through better design, construction detailing, methods, and management processes. This paper reports on the first phase of a joint university/industry Knowledge Transfer project to address the above issues in renovated student accommodations in North West England. Temperature, relative humidity, CO2, and meter readings are measured and recorded in three case study buildings. Results revealed a direct relationship between energy consumption, IAQ, and occupants’ behaviours in the buildings. CO2, Temperature, and RH levels were more acceptable in one of the case study buildings; however, its energy consumption was 7 times higher when compared with a similar building

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Meda - Ela canal near Karadiyana semi-controlled dumpsite, Sri Lanka

The pollution of natural waterbodies with landfill leachate from dumpsites is a severe environmental issue all over the world. Karadiyana semi-controlled dumpsite in the Western province of Sri Lanka is one of the largest dumpsites in the country. The leachate generated in the dumpsite directly flows into Meda Ela canal which is a tributary of Bolgoda Lake Weras Ganga system causing a significant pollution threat on aquatic life. The current study assesses the contamination level of selected heavy metals in the sediments of Meda-Ela close to the dumpsite. The study was carried out for a period of one year from January - December 2018. The sediment samples were characterized with an alkaline pH ranging from 8.40 to 8.70. The electrical conductivity of the sediment was recorded with a mean value of 139.93 ± 26.7 µS/cm. The mean concentration of Cu in sediment was of 73.53± 2.52 mg/Kg and it falls into the EPA guideline for heavily polluted sediments. Total Cu concentration exceeds the threshold effect concentration but falls below the probable effect concentration. The total Fe concentration was relatively high (110.83 ±1.96 mg/Kg) among the measured metal species. The other metals, Cd, Cr and Zn was recorded with mean concentrations of 0.38 ± 0.03,103 ± 41.62, 94.4 ± 2.08 mg/Kg respectively. Pollution Load Index of the sediment was 0.87 and therefore it comes under no pollution category. This suggests that there is no appreciable input from anthropogenic sources. Based on geo- accumulation index, sediments are moderately polluted with respect to Cu and Cd.KEYWORDS:     Karadiyana, Sediments, Heavy metal, Geo-accumulation index, Pollution Loading Inde

Taweret: a Python package for Bayesian model mixing

Uncertainty quantification using Bayesian methods is a growing area of research. Bayesian model mixing (BMM) is a recent development which combines the predictions from multiple models such that each model's best qualities are preserved in the final result. Practical tools and analysis suites that facilitate such methods are therefore needed. Taweret introduces BMM to existing Bayesian uncertainty quantification efforts. Currently Taweret contains three individual Bayesian model mixing techniques, each pertaining to a different type of problem structure; we encourage the future inclusion of user-developed mixing methods. Taweret's first use case is in nuclear physics, but the package has been structured such that it should be adaptable to any research engaged in model comparison or model mixing.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures, submitted to JOSS (Journal of Open Source Software) on 31 October 2023. Comments are welcome

Enhanced Characterization of Drug Metabolism and the Influence of the Intestinal Microbiome: A Pharmacokinetic, Microbiome, and Untargeted Metabolomics Study.

Determining factors that contribute to interindividual and intra-individual variability in pharmacokinetics (PKs) and drug metabolism is essential for the optimal use of drugs in humans. Intestinal microbes are important contributors to variability; however, such gut microbe-drug interactions and the clinical significance of these interactions are still being elucidated. Traditional PKs can be complemented by untargeted mass spectrometry coupled with molecular networking to study the intricacies of drug metabolism. To show the utility of molecular networking on metabolism we investigated the impact of a 7-day course of cefprozil on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activity using a modified Cooperstown cocktail and assessed plasma, urine, and fecal data by targeted and untargeted metabolomics and molecular networking in healthy volunteers. This prospective study revealed that cefprozil decreased the activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A, decreased alpha diversity and increased interindividual microbiome variability. We further demonstrate a relationship between the loss of microbiome alpha diversity caused by cefprozil and increased drug and metabolite formation in fecal samples. Untargeted metabolomics/molecular networking revealed several omeprazole metabolites that we hypothesize may be metabolized by both CYP2C19 and bacteria from the gut microbiome. Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that factors that perturb the gut microbiome, such as antibiotics, alter drug metabolism and ultimately drug efficacy and toxicity but that these effects are most strongly revealed on a per individual basis