Human antibody responses to the plamodium vivax duffy binding protein in Sri Lanka

Recombinant protein DBP, expressed in a bacculoviral vector, representing the native Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein (DBP) was used in an indirect ELISA to assay the total anti-DBP antibody (IgM + IgG) responses in Sri Lankan patients with acute vivax malaria.The test populations were selected from two malaria endemic areas, Anuradhapura (n=64) and Kataragama (n=93), and from an area non-endemic for malaria, Colombo (n=91). The prevalences of anti-DBP antibodies were 53%, 38% and 44% from Anuradhapura, Kataragama and Colombo, respectively. A significant difference (Chi-square test, p<0.05) was found between the proportions of responders and non-responders to DBP in Kataragama. Responding proportions of individuals previously exposed (PE) and previously not exposed (PNE) differed significantly only in Colombo (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Significant differences (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05) were evident between anti-DBP antibody magnitudes; (i) in Anuradhapura and Kataragama and (ii) of PNE individuals from Colombo and the total responders (both PNE + PE) from Anuradhapura.A significant difference (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.01) in the end point titers (EPT) between PNE and PE individuals was limited to Colombo. Associations between host factors (age, parasitaemia, number of past infections, the duration between present and penultimate infections and the days of symptoms) and total antibody responses (antibody magnitudes and EPT) were examined (Spearman Correlation coefficient, p<0.05). The significant associations found were between (i) parasitaemia and then total antibody responses of residents in Anuradhapura, (ii) between the parasitaemia group <0.01% and the total antibody response of residents in Kataragama (a negative correlation), (iii) number of past infections in Colombo and (iv) the duration between the present and penultimate infections in Colombo and in Anuradhapura with EPT and the antibody magnitudes, respectively. In conclusion, results of the present study imply that naturally acquired anti-DBP antibodies may play a functional role in the immunity to vivax malaria in Sri Lank

Artificial Intelligence for Resilience in Smart Grid Operations

Today, the electric power grid is transforming into a highly interconnected network of advanced technologies, equipment, and controls to enable a smarter grid. The growing complexity of smart grid requires resilient operation and control. Power system resilience is defined as the ability to harden the system against and quickly recover from high-impact, low-frequency events. The introduction of two-way flows of information and electricity in the smart grid raises concerns of cyber-physical attacks. Proliferated penetration of renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic (PV) and wind power introduce challenges due to the high variability and uncertainty in generation. Unintentional disruptions and power system component outages have become a threat to real-time power system operations. Recent extreme weather events and natural disasters such as hurricanes, storms, and wildfires demonstrate the importance of resilience in the power system. It is essential to find solutions to overcome these challenges in maintaining resilience in smart grid. In this dissertation, artificial intelligence (AI) based approaches have been developed to enhance resilience in smart grid. Methods for optimal automatic generation control (AGC) have been developed for multi-area multi-machine power systems. Reliable AI models have been developed for predicting solar irradiance, PV power generation, and power system frequencies. The proposed short-horizon AI prediction models ranging from few seconds to a minute plus, outperform the state-of-art persistence models. The AI prediction models have been applied to provide situational intelligence for power system operations. An enhanced tie-line bias control in a multi-area power system for variable and uncertain environments has been developed with predicted PV power and bus frequencies. A distributed and parallel security-constrained optimal power flow (SCOPF) algorithm has been developed to overcome the challenges in solving SCOPF problem for large power networks. The methods have been developed and tested on an experimental laboratory platform consisting of real-time digital simulators, hardware/software phasor measurement units, and a real-time weather station

Human antibody responses to the Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein in Sri Lanka

Recombinant protein DBP, expressed in a bacculoviral vector, representing the native Plasmodium vivax Duffy Binding Protein (DBP) was used in an indirect ELISA to assay the total anti-DBP antibody (IgM + IgG) responses in Sri Lankan patients with acute vivaxmalaria. The test populations were selected from two malaria endemic areas, Anuradhapura (n=64) and Kataragama (n=93), and from an area non-endemic for malaria, Colombo (n=91). The prevalences of anti-DBP antibodies were 53%, 38% and 44% from Anuradhapura, Kataragama and Colombo, respectively. A significant difference (Chi-square test, p<0.05) was found between the proportions of responders and non-responders to DBP in Kataragama. Responding proportions of individuals previously exposed (PE) and previously not exposed (PNE) differed significantly only in Colombo (Chi-square test, p<0.05). Significant differences (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.05) were evident between anti-DBP antibody magnitudes; (i) in Anuradhapura and Kataragama and (ii) of PNE individuals from Colombo and the total responders (both PNE + PE) from Anuradhapura. A significant difference (Mann-Whitney U test, p<0.01) in the end point titers (EPT) between PNE and PE individuals was limited to Colombo. Associations between host factors (age, parasitaemia, number of past infections, the duration between present and penultimate infections and the days of symptoms) and total antibody responses (antibody magnitudes and EPT) were examined (Spearman Correlation coefficient, p<0.05). The significant associations found were between (i) parasitaemia and then total antibody responses of residents in Anuradhapura, (ii) between the parasitaemia group <0.01% and the total antibody response of residents in Kataragama (a negative correlation), (iii) number of past infections in Colombo and (iv) the duration between the present and penultimate infections in Colombo and in Anuradhapura with EPT and the antibody magnitudes, respectively. In conclusion, results of the present study imply that naturally acquired anti-DBP antibodies may play a functional role in the immunity to vivax malaria in Sri Lanka

Comparison of the two different recombinant proteins representing region II of the duffy binding protein of plasmodium vivax by assaying for natural antibodies

Two different recombinant proteins representing region II of the Duffy Binding Protein of Plasmodium vivax, DBP and PvRII expressed in the bacculovirus and Eschericia coli vector systems, respectively, were compared by assaying the total immunoglobulin (IgM + IgG) responses of sera of patients with acute vivax malaria in an indirect ELISA. The patients were from two malaria endemic areas, Anuradhapura (n=64) and Kataragama (n=90), and a nonendemic area, Colombo (n=90). The antibody prevalence was 50% and 44% from Anuradhapura, 39% and 28% Kataragama and 57% and 41% from Colombo, for PvRII and DBP, respectively. The antibody prevalence for PvRII was higher than that for DBP in each test area, that was significant only in Colombo (p=0.001). The percentages of patients that they responded to both proteins were 34% (n=22), 19% (n=17) and 40% (n=36) from Anuradhapura, Kataragama and from Colombo, respectively. In comparison, a significantly lower (p=0.007) percentage of individuals from Kataragama responded to both proteins. Further 16% (n=10) from Anuradhapura, 19% (n=17) from Kataragama and 16% (n=14) from Colombo preferentially recognised PvRII, whereas, corresponding values for DBP were 9% (n=6), 10% (n=9) and 1% (n=1), respectively, where this difference was significant only in Colombo (p=0.031). Among the previously non-exposed patients from Colombo, 24% responded preferentially to PvRII whereas it was only 3% for DBP (p=0.021). On the other hand, of the previously exposed patients from Colombo, 10% preferentially responded to PvRII whereas no preferential recognition of DBP was observed (p=0.063). Thus the results of this study show a higher natural antibody response to recombinant protein PvRII, which represents the functional conformation of region II of the Duffy Binding Protein

Enhancing Student Housing Accessibility and Affordability: A Comprehensive Analysis of Private Accommodations at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

The fundamental right to education drives students across the globe to seek higher education opportunities, often necessitating relocations within their own country or abroad. In the context of Sri Lanka, the higher education gross enrolment rate has steadily increased, currently standing at 19.8%. However, the capacity of the nation's universities to offer on-campus housing falls short in accommodating the surging student population. Consequently, there has been a growing demand for private student housing, met primarily by private housing providers. At the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, a significant proportion, approximately 60% of undergraduate students, face the challenge of lacking access to on-campus dormitory facilities, making private housing companies a potentially pivotal solution. However, a critical gap exists in the legal framework regulating student private housing, forcing students to seek accommodation in hotels.When selecting private housing, students take into account multifaceted factors including location, proximity to the educational institution, safety, amenities, and the degree of personal autonomy they can enjoy. This research endeavours to develop an invaluable decision-making tool to empower students in making informed choices regarding private accommodations. Given that a substantial portion of students originates from rural areas where daily commutes to the university are impractical, student housing assumes paramount significance in their pursuit of higher education. This research project advocates for institutional guidance in the selection of private housing, a move that would substantially benefit students grappling with the challenge of securing suitable accommodations within limited timeframes. The study's findings hold the potential to significantly improve the educational journey for aspiring students in Sri Lanka, thereby enhancing accessibility and equity in higher education

Failure assessment of corroded pipes buried in partially saturated soils

Pipelines are used to provide variety of services in modern community and have grown rapidly in past few decades due to ever increasing needs of socio-economic aspects. Most of the water pipelines are buried in unsaturated soils where the behaviour of pipes is significantly different when compared to the pipes buried in dry/fully saturated soils. The internal and external loading act on buried pipes in such non-dry soil medium can lead towards undesirable failures as the current approach of pipe failure assessments overlook soil moisture effect (i.e. suction). The risk of pipe failure can be further triggered by aging effects as these pipelines have been laid sometime in the last century or earlier (i.e. highly corroded). As failures of water mains can have negative consequences on economy, society and environment in various ways, accurate prediction of remaining service life incorporating realistic soil and pipe condition can facilitate better asset management by water utilities while providing enhanced service to their customers. In this study, buried pipe response under operational loads (internal water pressure and external traffic loads) was investigated using a comprehensive large-scale pipe-soil testing methodology. Pipe deformations as well as soil stresses were evaluated in reference to a cast iron pipeline buried in low plasticity clay under different soil saturation levels. The results obtained from large scale experiments are compared with those from 3-dimensional finite element models that were calibrated against unsaturated soil sample tests conducted in the current study. The calibrated 3-dimensional (3-D) finite element model then formed a basis for detailed investigation of buried pipe behaviour under various loadings in unsaturated soil conditions. Results from large scale tests revealed that the backfill soil saturation can significantly affect the pipe deformation under internal and external loadings. The behaviour of buried pipe response in unsaturated soils was then simulated using 3-D Finite element (FE) method with advanced constitutive soil models. The models were first validated using experimental and reported field test data using calibrated soil properties. A series of 3-D FE analysis is used to develop an analytical model for predicting maximum stress in pipes (new and uniformly corroded condition) considering soil saturation effects. Results from the FE analysis reveal that the maximum pipe stress can be lowered by 10-80% depending on the partial saturation condition when compared to dry condition. The proposed formula shows a good agreement with the field data and FE results, so that the expression can be used in calculation of maximum pipe stress when they are buried under realistic (i.e. non-dry) soil conditions. Further studies were conducted to investigate the behaviour of corroded pipes subjected to internal and external loadings in partially saturated soil medium. Number of 3-D finite element studies was conducted using advanced soil constitutive models to analyse the behaviour of pipes with various corrosion patch geometries (corrosion patch depth, width and longitudinal length) which were identified on the basis of exhumed pipe sections in Australia. Results of the analyses were rigorously analysed by considering both stress intensity factor and stress concentration factor approach to determine the failure state of buried corroded pipes in unsaturated soils subjected to service loads. Study revealed that corrosion geometry (size &amp;amp; shape) and location can be highly significant in predicting the pipe failures in unsaturated soils. Analysis results were used to develop an analytical model on predicting the maximum pipe stress incorporating corrosion characteristics in addition to pipe and soil parameters. The model can be the backbone in failure assessment of buried pipes which are undergone inevitable corrosion during its service life

Creating a Smart Web Application for Sri Lankan Universities: A Case Study of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura

Access to education is a fundamental right, and the pursuit of higher education often prompts students to relocate, even across borders. In Sri Lanka, a considerable number of students from rural areas migrate to urban centers for university education, resulting in a higher education gross enrollment rate of 19.8%. However, universities in Sri Lanka face challenges in providing sufficient on-campus housing for the growing student population. Consequently, there is a surging demand for private student housing, primarily driven by students themselves. Presently, private housing providers are stepping in to meet this demand. This study endeavours to explore available options for private housing in close proximity to universities, employing SMART online application techniques. Its primary aim is to assist students in identifying suitable private accommodations, taking into account a myriad of factors. A significant proportion of students attending Sri Jayewardenepura University hail from rural areas situated more than 30 kilometers away from the campus, rendering daily commuting impractical. Moreover, approximately sixty percent of undergraduate students at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura lack access to on-campus hostel facilities, necessitating their search for private lodgings. However, several crucial factors need consideration when selecting private housing. While regulations govern university dormitories, there is presently no legislation overseeing or standardizing private housing options for students. Consequently, nearly 90% of undergraduates encounter multiple challenges when seeking suitable private accommodations within tight timeframes. Given that many students are unfamiliar with the area, institutional guidance in selecting private housing would prove invaluable