Vitamin D deficiency was common in all patients at a Swedish primary care centre, but more so in patients born outside of Europe.

Background: Vitamin D is associated with extra-skeletal processes, and vitamin D deficiency might contribute to the development of chronic diseases.

Aim: To investigate vitamin D levels in an unselected patient population at a Swedish suburban primary care centre.

Methods: Vitamin D levels were assessed in 102 patients aged 20 to 65 years visiting the primary care centre, independent of cause of visit, during 2 weeks in January 2014.

Challenges faced by older nurses in Singapore: a mixed methods study.

Background: In Singapore, employees aged 62-65 can continue to be employed if they meet the re-employment eligibility criteria. This policy, coupled with an ageing workforce, calls for age-friendly initiatives, specific to work-related challenges faced by older nurses.

Aim: To determine work-related challenges faced by older nurses.

Virgin coconut oil maintains redox status and improves glycemic conditions in high fructose fed rats.

Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), extracted from fresh coconut kernel possess similar fatty acid composition to that of Copra Oil (CO), a product of dried kernel. Although CO forms the predominant dietary constituent in south India, VCO is being promoted for healthy life due to its constituent antioxidant molecules. High fructose containing CO is an established model for insulin resistance and steatohepatitis in rodents.

Risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediments of a tropical lake.

The risk assessment of heavy metal contamination was carried out in sediments of an urban tropical lake system (Akkulam-Veli) under threat from rapid unplanned urbanization and poor sewage management. Heavy metals were selected due to their persistent and bioaccumulative nature. Sequential extraction of the metals was carried out to resolve the sediments to their component phases.

Effect of seasonal variations on the surface sediment heavy metal enrichment of a lake in South India.

Environmental effects due to continuous accumulation of hazardous materials like heavy metals in the surface sediments of lake systems can stress fragile ecosystems. Elucidating the mechanisms influencing the concentration and distribution of heavy metals becomes vital in formulating lake management strategies to preserve the quality of the water environment. Studying of the effect of seasonal variations on surface sediments will help in understanding the different factors and sources contributing and diluting these persistent pollutants.

Identification of silicon (Si) as an appropriate normaliser for estimating the heavy metals enrichment of an urban lake system.

Urbanisation has a profound influence on our environment, and its burden is often transferred to aquatic systems. The surface sediments of urban lake systems are severely threatened with major contamination on a daily basis. Empirical evidence gleaned from the study of Akkulam Veli, a tropical urban lake in Southern India, indicates the need to evaluate all factors defining the contamination status of lake systems, rather than the conventional procedure that use Al or Fe, and select normalisers to evaluate metal enrichment in contaminated lake systems.

Insights into isotherm making in the sorptive removal of fluoride from drinking water.

The defluoridation research has thrown up many technologies, with adsorption as a popular alternative, especially among fluoride endemic habitations of the developing world. In the endeavor to develop novel adsorbents for defluoridation, the adsorption potential of hardened alumina cement granules (ALC) were examined through isotherm fitting. Though the adsorbent showed enhanced adsorption capacity at higher fluoride concentration ranges, the errors associated with linearization in isotherm fitting were also found to be increasing.

Feasibility analysis of As(III) removal in a continuous flow fixed bed system by modified calcined bauxite (MCB).

This study examine the feasibility of As(III) removal from aqueous environment by an adsorbent, modified calcined bauxite (MCB) in a continuous flow fixed bed system. MCB exhibited excellent adsorption capacity of 520.2 mg/L (0.