Developing economically viable, scalable, and sustainable technologies for the conversion of lignocellulosic polysaccharides to liquid fuels is widely seen as a centerpiece of the global bioeconomy, ...and a key part of a multi-pronged approach to achieve carbon neutrality. Here we identify technology challenges and opportunities to achieve this promise. An overview of feedstocks, processes and products indicates that (1) biorefining at a scale sufficient to meaningfully impact climate change will likely involve fuels as the primary products, chemicals and biomaterials as co-products, and lignocellulose as the preferred feedstock; (2) microbial processing of cellulosic biomass will likely occur in the presence of solids, rather than involving solids-free sugar syrups, giving rise to challenges and constraints distinctive to lignocellulose; (3) anaerobic processing involves much lower costs than aerobic processing, making it more promising for fuel production; and (4) anaerobic production at high yields and broth titers has to date been reported only for molecules with ≤4 carbons. Some anaerobic bacteria are substantially more effective at polysaccharide deconstruction than aerobic fungi. Processes based on these microbes have great potential for cost reduction but require substantial research-driven advances. A mechanistic, functional group approach to product tolerance and inhibition is presented, separation technologies applicable to different product classes are surveyed, and perspectives are offered on opportunities to decrease product inhibition and the cost of product recovery. Pathways and research opportunities are considered for chemo-catalytic conversion of anaerobic fermentation products to larger fuel molecules. Fuel properties are considered for a broad range of biologically-derived products in relation to their suitability for various transport applications. Strategic perspectives are presented drawing on these diverse topics and insights. For multiple compounding reasons, features of small molecules make it less expensive to produce them biologically compared to large molecules, and this is particularly true for production from lignocellulose. Yet the fuels the world would most value producing from lignocellulosic biomass to address climate stabilization are large molecules compatible with heavy-duty, difficult-to-electrify transport applications. Hybrid processes wherein lignocellulose is converted biologically to small molecule intermediates and then converted chemo-catalytically to larger fuel molecules are a promising approach to reconciling this discrepancy.
Hybrid processes, featuring biological conversion of lignocellulose to small molecules followed by chemo-catalytic conversion to larger molecules suitable for difficult-to-electrify transport modes, are a promising route to biomass-derived fuels in demand for climate stabilization.
Identification of internationally comparable indicators of medicines use are important for a country to implement strategies and regulations to improve usage of medicines. Sri Lanka established a new ...National Medicines Regulatory Authority in 2015 and this survey evaluated the medication use indicators in Sri Lanka, according to the International Network on Rational Use of Drugs (INRUD), prior to its implementation.
This descriptive-cross-sectional study was conducted in 80 pharmacies, representing all 25 districts of the country. Three pharmacy categories were included; privately owned pharmacies, 'Rajya Osusala' pharmacies operated by the State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (SPC) of Sri Lanka and SPC Franchisee pharmacy outlets. Selection of pharmacies from respective districts were done proportionate to estimated population. Data were collected to identify WHO/INRUD core drug use indicators and the commonly prescribed medicines.
Total of 2328 prescriptions were included ('Rajya Osusala 559; SPC Franchise 711; private pharmacies 1058). Altogether 7,255 medicines were prescribed, and the 3 most commonly prescribed medicines were atorvastatin, losartan and metformin. Average number of medicines per encounter was 3.1±1.9 (Median: 3; range 1-12) Highest average number of medicines per encounter was reported in prescriptions received at 'Rajya Osusala' pharmacies (3.6±2.2), significantly higher than in other categories of pharmacies (p<0.001). Percentage of medicines prescribed by generic name was only 35.5%, highest at the 'Rajya Osusala' pharmacies (40.6%), significantly higher than other categories of pharmacies. The overall percentage of medicines prescribed from essential medicine list (EML) was 68.8%, without any significant variation between different categories of pharmacies. The percentage of medicines actually dispensed and accurately labelled were 92.4 and 98.5% respectively.
The average number of medicines per encounter was higher than the WHO recommended value but the usage of antibiotic and injectable drugs were within recommended standards. Generic prescribing, was very much lower. The EML prescribing, labelling and percentage dispensed medicines fared much better although lower than the WHO recommended 100% compliance. This island wide study has provided national wide data before the implementation of key changes in regulation of medicines in Sri Lanka and a repeat survey will be useful to identify impact of the new legislations.
Starch from normal (CDC teal), high amylose (line 11132) and waxy (99 WAX 27) bread wheat cultivars was isolated and its morphology, composition, structure and properties were studied before and ...after annealing. Granule diameters, total phosphorus, total amylose, lipid complexed amylose chains, crystallinity, gelatinization temperature range, gelatinization enthalpy, swelling factor (at 90
°C), and amylose leaching (at 90
°C), in the above starches ranged from 2–38
μm, 0.007–0.058%, 26.9–32.3%, 13.4–18.7%, 28.6–42.8%, 12.7–14.3
°C, 11.3–13.3
J/g, 27.6–72.2 and 22.2–26.2%, respectively. Peak viscosity, thermal stability, set-back and susceptibility towards acid hydrolysis followed the order: 99WAX27
>
CDC teal
>
11132, 11132
>
CDC teal
>
99WAX27, CDC teal
>
99 WAX 27
>
11132, and 99WAX27
>
11132
>
CDC teal, respectively. Susceptibility towards α-amylase hydrolysis followed the order: 99 WAX 27
>
11132
>
CDC teal (<24
h) and 11132
>
CDC teal
>
99WAX27 (>24
h). The extent of retrogradation measured by spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry followed the order: 11132
>
CDC teal
>
99WAX27 and 99WAX27
>
CDC teal
>
11132, respectively. In all starches, concentration of amylose, lipid complexed amylose chains, gelatinization temperature range, swelling factor, amylose leaching, peak viscosity, final viscosity, set-back, light transmission, susceptibility towards α-amylase and acid hydrolysis and the proportion of small (2–8
μm) B-type granules decreased on annealing. Thermal stability and crystallinity increased on annealing. In all starches, gelatinization, enthalpy, retrogradation rate and amylopectin chain length distribution remained unchanged on annealing. Pores and indentations were formed on the granule surfaces of CDC teal and 99WAX27 starches on annealing.
This study examined the central auditory processing (CAP) assessment results of adults between 45 and 85 years of age with probable pre-clinical Alzheimer's disease - i.e., individuals with ...subjective memory complaints (SMCs) as compared to those who were not reporting significant levels of memory complaints (non-SMCs). It was hypothesized that the SMC group would perform significantly poorer on tests of central auditory skills compared to participants with non-SMCs (control group).
A total of 95 participants were recruited from the larger Western Australia Memory Study and were classified as SMCs (
= 61; 20 males and 41 females, mean age 71.47 ±7.18 years) and non-SMCs (
= 34; 10 males, 24 females, mean age 68.85 ±7.69 years). All participants completed a peripheral hearing assessment, a CAP assessment battery including Dichotic Digits, Duration Pattern Test, Dichotic Sentence Identification, Synthetic Sentence Identification with Ipsilateral Competing Message (SSI-ICM) and the Quick-Speech-in-Noise, and a cognitive screening assessment.
The SMCs group performed significantly poorer than the control group on SSI-ICM -10 and -20 dB signal-to-noise conditions. No significant differences were found between the two groups on the peripheral hearing threshold measurements and other CAP assessments.
The results suggest that individuals with SMCs perform poorly on specific CAP assessments in comparison to the controls. The poor CAP in SMC individuals may result in a higher cost to their finite pool of cognitive resources. The CAP results provide yet another biomarker that supports the hypothesis that SMCs may be a primary indication of neuropathological changes in the brain. Longitudinal follow up of individuals with SMCs, and decreased CAP abilities should inform whether this group is at higher risk of developing dementia as compared to non-SMCs and those SMC individuals without CAP difficulties.
IntroductionA number of studies have reported an association between peripheral hearing impairment, central auditory processing and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its preclinical stages. Both ...peripheral hearing impairment and central auditory processing disorders are observed many years prior to the clinical manifestation of AD symptoms, hence, providing a long window of opportunity to investigate potential interventions against neurodegenerative processes. This paper outlines the protocol for a systematic review of studies examining the central auditory processing functions in AD and its preclinical stages, investigated through behavioural (clinical assessments that require active participation) central auditory processing tests.Methods and analysisWe will use the keywords and Medical Subject Heading terms to search the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, PsychINFO, PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE and CINAHL Plus. Studies including assessments of central auditory function in adults diagnosed with dementia, AD and its preclinical stages that were published before 8 May 2019 will be reviewed. This review protocol will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols guidelines. Data analysis and search results will be reported in the full review. This manuscript has designed the protocols for a systematic review that will identify the behavioural clinical central auditory processing measures that are sensitive to the changes in auditory function in adults with AD and its preclinical stages. Such assessments may subsequently help to design studies to examine the potential impact of hearing and communication rehabilitation of individuals at risk of AD.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval is not required as this manuscript only reports the protocols for conducting a systematic review as primary data will only be reviewed and not be collected. The results of this systematic review will be disseminated through publication and in scientific conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42017078272.
This study reviews recent advancements in food science and technology, analyzing their impact on the development of intelligent food packaging within the complex food supply chain. Modern food ...technology has brought about intelligent food packaging, which includes sensors, indicators, data carriers, and artificial intelligence. This innovative packaging helps monitor food quality and safety. These innovations collectively aim to establish an unbroken chain of food safety, freshness, and traceability, from production to consumption. This research explores the components and technologies of intelligent food packaging, focusing on key indicators like time–temperature indicators, gas indicators, freshness indicators, and pathogen indicators to ensure optimal product quality. It further incorporates various types of sensors, including gas sensors, chemical sensors, biosensors, printed electronics, and electronic noses. It integrates data carriers such as barcodes and radio-frequency identification to enhance the complexity and functionality of this system. The review emphasizes the growing influence of artificial intelligence. It looks at new advances in artificial intelligence that are driving the development of intelligent packaging, making it better at preserving food freshness and quality. This review explores how modern food technologies, especially artificial intelligence integration, are revolutionizing intelligent packaging for food safety, quality, reduced waste, and enhanced traceability.
Anthracnose caused by the fungus Colletotrichum musae is a widespread disease found among banana resulting in high postharvest losses in Sri Lanka. The use of essential oils (EO) to control ...postharvest diseases has become an ecologically friendly alternative to synthetic chemicals due to their antimicrobial properties while fruit coating is an effective method to increase shelf life. This study focused on controlling anthracnose and extending the shelf life of banana by incorporating selected EOs into a fruit coating. The gel matrix was extracted from the cortex of Aloe vera and mixed with a gelatin agent to serve as the fruit coating material. EOs was screened against C. musae which was isolated from banana cultivar Kolikuttu under in vitro bio-assay. Four different treatments were carried out under in vivo conditions. Two concentrations of gelatin (G) in 200 ml of Aloe vera (AV) coating material (2% GAV and 4% GAV) were independently mixed with the most effective EO at optimal concentration and one treatment with AV coating without EO. Untreated fruits with no EO or coating served as the control. Post-harvest quality parameters, % weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), and flesh color were monitored and showed no significant undesirable effects when compared with the control. Disease severity was significantly low in coated fruits with Basil oil at 1000 µLL-1 in 2% or 4% GAV. The Most effective EO for controlling banana anthracnose was basil oil (70.28%) at 1000 µLL-1 followed by cardamom oil (53.06%). A sensory evaluation with untrained panelists showed that quality parameters were not affected by the treatments. Results indicated basil oil incorporated A. vera as a suitable bio-safe fruit coating against anthracnose in banana.
Use of biologically safe, essential oil-incorporated fruit coatings to reduce postharvest losses has become an attractive alternative to synthetic fungicides in recent years. Increase in shelf life ...due to reduced water loss and reduced evaporation of essential oils (EO) within the coating are key advantages of incorporating EOs to fruit coatings. The effect of beeswax as a fruit coating with and without essential oil on the postharvest quality and natural disease development of mango (cv. Willard) was evaluated by conducting a laboratory experiment. Pure Beeswax, dissolved either in vegetable oil (1:3 w/v) or petroleum ether (1:4 w/v), served as the coating material. Basil oil at 400 or 600 μL L-1 was incorporated to the different coating material. Fruits with no coating and no essential oil served as controls. Eight replicate fruits were used per treatment and three trials were performed. Treated fruits were arranged in a Completely Randomized Design and kept under ambient conditions. Daily observations were made on natural disease development and weight loss. The Total Soluble Solid content and titrable acidity were measured at eating ripe stage and sensory evaluation by a taste panel was also obtained. Data were analyzed using ANOVA with SPSS software version 20.0 package. Results indicated that basil oil in beeswax significantly reduced physiological weight loss, delayed fruit ripening and also delayed and reduced postharvest disease development.
In a ‘blind’ trial on 50 male asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects with
Wuchereria bancrofti infection, the safety, tolerability and filaricidal efficacy of a single dose of albendazole (alb) 600 mg ...alone or in combination with ivermectin (iver) 400 μg/kg or diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) 6 mg/kg was compared with a single dose of the combination DEC 6 mg/kg and iver 400 μg/kg over a period of 15 months after treatment. All but one subject, with 67 microfilariae (mf)/mL, had pre-treatment counts > 100 mf/mL. All 4 treatments significantly reduced mf counts, but alb/iver was the most effective regimen for clearing mf from night blood: 9 of 13 subjects (69%) were amicrofilaraemic by membrane filtration 15 months after treatment compared to one of 12 (8%), 3 of 11 (27%), and 3 of 10 (30%) in the groups treated with alb, alb/DEC, and DEC/iver, respectively. Filarial antigen tests suggested that all 4 treatments had significant activity against adult
W. bancrofti; alb/DEC had the greatest activity according to this test, with antigen levels decreasing by 77% 15 months after therapy. All 4 regimens were well tolerated and clinically safe, although mild, self-limited systemic reactions were observed in all treatment groups. These results suggest that alb/iver is a safe and effective single dose regimen for suppression of microfilaraemia in bancroftian filariasis that could be considered for control programmes. Additional benefits of this combination are its potent, broad spectrum activity against intestinal helminths and potential relative safety in areas of Africa where DEC cannot be used for filariasis control because of co-endemicity with onchocerciasis or loiasis.
In a ‘blinded’ trial (in Sri Lanka, 1996–1998) of 47 male asymptomatic microfilaraemic subjects with
Wuchereria bancrofti infection, the safety, tolerability and filaricidal efficacy of 3 single-dose ...combination regimens were compared: albendazole 400 mg with ivermectin 200 μg/kg, albendazole 400 mg with diethylcarbamazine citrate (DEC) 6 mg/kg or albendazole 600 mg with ivermectin 400 μg/kg. Treated subjects were followed-up for 24 months. This represents the first long-term study using combinations of albendazole with DEC or ivermectin in the above doses against bancroftian filariasis. All subjects had pretreatment microfilaria (mf) counts over 100/mL. All 3 treatments significantly reduced mf counts, with the albendazole-DEC-treated group showing the lowest mf levels at 18 and 24 months post-treatment, Filarial antigen tests suggested that all 3 treatments had significant activity against adult
W. bancrofti; albendazole-DEC combination had the greatest activity according to this test, with antigen levels decreasing to 30·5% of pre-treatment antigen levels, 24 months after therapy. All 3 treatments were clinically safe and well tolerated. These results suggest that a single dose of albendazole 400 mg together with DEC 6 mg/kg is a safe and effective combination for suppression of microfilaraemia of bancroftian filariasis that could be considered for use in filariasis control programmes based on mass treatment of endemic populations.
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