Association between Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism on the susceptibility to psoriasis and oxidative stress (OS) in a cohort of pediatric psoriatic patients in Sri Lanka: A cross sectional study.

Background: Pediatric psoriasis accounts for nearly one-third of the global psoriasis burden. Multiple lines of evidence have shown the relationship between Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) Insertion (I)/deletion(D) polymorphism with psoriasis susceptibility, and oxidative stress (OS) in psoriatic patients. However, such studies, particularly on pediatric psoriasis, are scarce in the local setting.

A Comparison of Dilute Aqueous Isethionic Acid and Sulfuric Acid in Hydrolysis of Three Different Untreated Lignocellulosic Biomass Varieties.

Efficient catalytic hydrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass to sugars is a major challenge in the production of sustainable biofuels and chemical feedstocks. In this study isethionic acid was compared with HSO for hydrolysis of polysaccharides in corn stover, switch grass, and poplar. The catalytic activities of acids were compared by analysis of total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose yields in a sequence of experiments in water at 90-190 °C using 0.

Anxiety, Depression, and Associated Factors Among the Field Midwives During COVID-19 Pandemic in Sri Lanka-A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction: Field midwives (FMs) in Sri Lanka, who care for women and children, were challenged during the COVID-19 pandemic. During COVID-19, the majority of research found that healthcare professionals experienced anxiety and depression.

Objective: This study examined anxiety, depression, and related factors among FMs during the COVID-19 pandemic in Sri Lanka.

Severity, interference, qualities, and correlates of severe pain: Descriptive cross-sectional study on pain experience of cancer patients in Sri Lanka.

Objective: Pain is the most debilitating and subjective experience of cancer patients. This study examines the severity, interference, characteristics, and associations of severe pain in Sri Lankan cancer patients.

Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in Sri Lanka on 384 patients at age 18 or older who had cancer pain for 3 months or more due to the initial lesion, secondaries, radiation, or chemotherapy.

Development and Validation of a Holistically Based Follow-Up Pain Assessment Diary Leading to Holistic Nursing for Patients with Cancer Pain in Sri Lanka.

The study aimed to develop and validate a holistically based follow-up pain assessment diary for patients with cancer pain in Sri Lanka. Mixed-method design adapted. Developing a pain diary and testing its psychometric qualities were done in two phases.

QM/MM study of N501 involved intermolecular interaction between SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain and antibody of human origin.

Intermolecular interaction between key residue N501 of the epitope on SARS-CoV-2 RBD and screening antibody B38 was studied using the QM/MM and QM approach. The QM/MM optimized geometry shows that angle X-H---Y is 165° for O-H---O between mAb light chain S30 and RBD N501. High level MP2 calculations indicated the interaction between RBD N501 and S30 of B38 Fab light chain provide a relatively strong attractive force of - 3.

Conservative Management of Placenta Percreta: Three Cases and a Review of the Literature regarding Conservative Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) Disorders.

Background: The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders has risen over the last decades, and there has been a gradual shift towards expectant management. Conservative management of PAS is known to reduce major obstetric haemorrhage and salvage hysterectomy. There is a lack of consensus on the follow-up of patients undergoing conservative approaches.

Hydrolysis and interactions of d-cellobiose with polycarboxylic acids.

The hydrolysis of cellulose model compound d-cellobiose was studied with a series of eight common polycarboxylic acids and two monocarboxylic acids in aqueous medium using 0.500 mmol -COOH/L at 170 °C. The maleic acid showed the highest catalytic activity with turnover frequency (TOF) of 29.

Socioeconomic status is a predictor of neurocognitive performance of early female adolescents.

Objective: Previous studies have shown that high socioeconomic status (SES) is significantly associated with inhibitory control, working memory, verbal comprehension and IQ. However, in the Asian setting, with its prevailing poverty, information about the influence of SES on cognitive development of female adolescents is limited. This study was aimed to investigate the association between SES and neurocognitive performance of early female adolescents in Sri Lanka.

Origin of the Regioselectivity in the Aldol Condensation between Hydroxymethylfurfural and Levulinic Acid: A DFT Investigation.

Our previous work demonstrated that hydroxide ion (OH) was able to catalyze aldol condensation reaction at room temperature between 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and levulinic acid (LA). This work identified three primary reaction steps in this condensation reaction using density functional theory (DFT): (1) deprotonation of LA to generate LA ions, (2) LA ions addition at hydroxymethyl site of HMF, and (3) internal dehydration to form the condensation product. The reaction pathway through the C5 of LA forms a linear product that is favored with respect to both energy and configuration in all three elementary reaction steps.

A two step method for the preparation of carbamate cross-linked cellulose films using an ionic liquid and their water retention properties.

Carbamate cross-linked cellulose films can be prepared in a two step method using cellulose dissolved in 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid. The new technique involves casting the film from cellulose ionic liquid solution onto a glass surface and application of alkyl/aryl diisocyanate in dry dimethylsulfoxide solution onto the cellulose - ionic liquid coating on glass and allowing the cross-linking reaction to occur on the pre-formed cellulose coating. The carbamate cross-linked cellulose films formed were characterized by FT-IR, and TG-DTA.

Acidic Ionic Liquids.

Ionic liquid with acidic properties is an important branch in the wide ionic liquid field and the aim of this article is to cover all aspects of these acidic ionic liquids, especially focusing on the developments in the last four years. The structural diversity and synthesis of acidic ionic liquids are discussed in the introduction sections of this review. In addition, an unambiguous classification system for various types of acidic ionic liquids is presented in the introduction.

Interactions of D-cellobiose with selected chloride salts: A ¹³C NMR and FT-IR study.

The interactions of cellulose model compound d-cellobiose with chloride salts of Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Li(+), Sn(2+), La(3+), Mg(2+), K(+) and NH4(+) were evaluated by measuring the (13)C NMR chemical shift changes (Δδ) of the disaccharide due to the addition of salts in D2O. The KCl and NH4Cl showed similar Δδ changes due to interactions only with the Cl(-) anion. Whereas other chloride salts showed interactions with both cation and anion.

Crystal structure of a polymeric calcium levulinate dihydrate: catena-poly[[di-aqua-calcium]-bis-(μ2-4-oxo-butano-ato)].

In the title calcium levulinate complex, [Ca(C5H7O3)2(H2O)2] n , the Ca(2+) ion lies on a twofold rotation axis and is octa-coordinated by two aqua ligands and six O atoms from four symmetry-related carboxyl-ate ligands, giving a distorted square-anti-prismatic coordination stereochemistry [Ca-O bond-length range = 2.355 (1)-2.599 (1) Å].

The effect of metal ions as co-catalysts on acidic ionic liquid catalyzed single-step saccharification of corn stover in water.

The effects of adding Cr(3+), Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+) Ni(2+), Cu(2+), Zn(2+) and La(3+) chlorides as co-catalysts to 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride acidic ionic liquid catalyzed saccharification of corn stover in aqueous medium was studied at 140-170 °C, by measuring the total reducing sugar (TRS) and glucose yields. The samples with Mn(2+), Fe(3+), Co(2+) as co-catalysts produced higher TRS yields compared to the sample without the metal ions. The Mn(2+) produced the highest catalytic effect enhancements and produced TRS yields of 68.

Cross-sectional study of glycemic control among adults with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition, a global concern, and a serious issue in Sri Lanka, where there is little data regarding the influence of dietary control, exercise, and adherence to medication behaviors among adults diabetes. In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, we identified current factors influencing glycemic control and glycemic control behavior among adults with diabetes. A total of 230 people attending diabetes clinics in a tertiary hospital and a primary care institute were administered the self-report Diabetes Information Form, assessing their socioeconomic and medical information and glycemic control behaviors.

An ethnographic study of diabetes health beliefs and practices in Sri Lankan adults.

Background: Globally, type 2 diabetes is increasingly prevalent; however, unique cultural contexts in each country might affect these diabetes control behaviours. Diabetes is a serious health issue in Sri Lanka and little is known about the impact of sociocultural context on diabetes health behaviours.

Aim: This first-time qualitative Sri Lankan study explored the health beliefs and practices of adults with diabetes to enhance current nursing care and medical treatment.

Mechanism of 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride catalyzed transformation of D-glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in DMSO: an NMR study.

The conversion of D-glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in the presence of 5.48 mol% 1-(1-propylsulfonic)-3-methylimidazolium chloride acidic ionic liquid catalyst in DMSO at 150°C was studied using (1)H, (13)C NMR, and visible spectroscopy. The HMF yield rapidly increases in the first 100 min of reaction, however yield drops beyond 100 min and levels off to a maximum yield of about 15.

A comparison of dilute aqueous p-toluenesulfonic and sulfuric acid pretreatments and saccharification of corn stover at moderate temperatures and pressures.

Single step pretreatment-saccharification of corn stover was investigated in aqueous p-toluenesulfonic and sulfuric acid media. Dilute aqueous solution of p-toluenesulfonic acid was a better catalyst than aqueous sulfuric acid of the same H(+) ion concentration for single step pretreatment-saccharification of corn stover at moderate temperatures and pressures. For example, 100mg corn stover heated at 150°C for 1h in 0.

Interactions of D-cellobiose with p-toluenesulfonic acid in aqueous solution: a (13)C NMR study.

The effects of adding D(2)SO(4), and p-toluenesulfonic acid-d to D-cellobiose dissolved in D(2)O were investigated at 23°C by plotting (13)C NMR chemical shift changes (Δδ) against the acid to D-cellobiose molar ratio. (13)C Chemical shifts of all 18 carbon signals from α and β anomers of D-cellobiose showed gradual decreases due to increasing acidity in aqueous D(2)SO(4) medium. The C-1 of the α anomer showed a slightly higher response to increasing D(+) concentration in the surrounding.

Zinc chloride mediated degradation of cellulose at 200 degrees C and identification of the products.

The effect of ZnCl(2) on the degradation of cellulose was studied to develop conditions to produce useful feedstock chemicals directly from cellulosic biomass. Cellulose containing 0.5 mol of ZnCl(2)/mol of glucose unit of cellulose was found to degrade at 200 degrees C when heated for more than 60 s in air.

Mechanism of the dehydration of D-fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in dimethyl sulfoxide at 150 degrees C: an NMR study.

The anomeric composition of d-fructose in dimethyl sulfoxide changes when the solution is heated from room temperature to 150 degrees C, with a small increase in the alpha-furanose form at the expense of the beta-pyranose tautomer. Additionally, a small amount of alpha-pyranose form was also observed at 150 degrees C. A mechanism is proposed for the dehydration of D-fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in DMSO at 150 degrees C, where the solvent acts as the catalyst.

Synthesis and solid-state structures of dimethyl 2,2'-bithiophenedicarboxylates.

The syntheses of dimethyl 2,2'-bithiophene-4,4'-dicarboxylate (3), dimethyl 2,2'-bithiophene-3,4'-dicarboxylate (4), and dimethyl 2,2'-bithiophene-3,3'-dicarboxylate (5) are described. Single-crystal X-ray structural analysis of these compounds shows that the thiophene rings in 3 and 4 are nearly coplanar (dihedral angle close to 0 degrees ) and they adopt the anti sulfur conformation in the solid state. Further, the structure of 4 is in agreement with our previous suggestion that there is an electrostatic stabilization of the planar structure due to attraction of the 3-carbonyl oxygen to the sulfur of the distal ring.

Reaction of 1,4-phthalazinedione with furfural: formation of the [5,6]benza-3a,7a-diazaindane system via an unusual skeletal rearrangement.

[reaction: see text] Oxidation of phthalahydrazide (1) with lead tetraacetate in the presence of furfural (3a) in methylene chloride gives [5,6]benza-3a,7a-diaza-3-carboxylindane-4,7-dione-1-ene (7a) in 64% yield. 5-Methylfurfural (3b) also reacted similarly to give the product 7b in 46% yield. Reaction of phathalazine-1,4-dione with thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde gives N-(2-formylthiophene)phthalahydrazide.