Basic & Applied Sciences
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/3860
2024-03-29T07:22:20ZIn silico Study of the Binding Affinities of Acetylcholinesterase and Synthetically Viable Coumarin Analogs
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2734
In silico Study of the Binding Affinities of Acetylcholinesterase and Synthetically Viable Coumarin Analogs
Afnan, M; Rathnaweera, CN; Udawatte, CS
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a serine
hydrolase that is responsible for the hydrolysis of
acetylcholine-a neurotransmitter associated with
the transmission of nerve impulses. The reversible
inhibition of AChE can be useful in combatting
Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A computational study
of the inhibition of AChE was conducted by
Molecular Docking using a series of synthetically
viable coumarin analogs generated by a program
called Autogrow 3.0 using the parent structure
as 7-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-(phenoxymethyl)-2Hchromen-
2-one. Each of the generated structures
were subjected to an energy minimization via
Spartan version 14 programme, the level of theory
being B3LYP/6-31G**. The drugs rivastigmine
and tacrine were used as reference molecules.The
docking software used was AutodockVina, with
the crystal structure bearing the PDB ID- 1GQR as
the receptor. Out of the 20 ligands investigated 6 of
the ligands, namely, C18, C3, C1, C17, C8 and C2
were calculated to have binding affinities of -10.0,
-9.5, -9.2, -9.2,-9.2 and -9.0 kJ/mol respectively, all
of which are higher in value than the values for
those of the two standard drugs, rivastigmine and
tacrine, which have values of -7.9 and -8.9 kJ/mol
respectively. In addition to this, 9 more ligands
showed binding affinities that lay between the
range of the two commercial drug molecules
used as references. These were- C16, C6, C12,
C10, C20, C15, C5, C7 and C14, which showed the
values -8.8, -8.8, -8.7, -8.5, -8.4, -8.3, -8.3,-8.2 and
-8.0 kJ/mol. Given these evidences, these two
groups appear to have the most likely chance
of being effective drug candidates for treating
Alzheimers disease.
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZApplicability of Allium cepa Test to Assess the Degree of Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Used Lubricating Oil by Using Crotalaria retusa L.
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2733
Applicability of Allium cepa Test to Assess the Degree of Phytoremediation of Soil Contaminated with Used Lubricating Oil by Using Crotalaria retusa L.
Walakulu Gamage, SS; Masakorala, K; Brown, MT; Widana Gamage, SMK
Indiscriminate disposal of used lubricating
oil (ULO) into the soil has become one of the
major environmental issues in most of the cities
throughout the world. Phytoremediation is a
novel technique with a potential to be utilized
to remediate ULO contaminated soil. The aim
of the study was to investigate the applicability
of Allium cepa test to assess the degree of
phytoremediation of soil contaminated with ULO
by using Crotalaria retusa L. A pot experiment
was conducted by using ULO contaminated
soils with the contamination levels of 10,000
mg/kg (T1), 20,000 mg/kg (T2) and 30,000 mg/
kg (T3) w/w ULO according to the randomized
block design (RBD) with four replicates per each
contamination level. At the end of 90 days, A.
cepa system showed significantly high Mitotic
index (MI) for the treatments with plants (34.51,
23.34 and 20.30) compared to that of unplanted
control (27.77, 20.81 and 16.42) for T1, T2 and
T3 respectively. The percentage biodegradation
(43.75, 32.23 and 22.1) in the C. retusa rhizosphere
soil was significantly high compared to that of
unplanted control (25.15%, 16.4% and 9.15%)
for T1, T2 and T3 respectively. The results infer
that the phytoremediation and genotoxicity (MI
and chromosomal aberrations) reduction in the
treatment with C. retusa varied in time-dependent
and contamination-level-dependent manner.
The correlation analysis revealed highly positive
correlations (r=0.882, 0.970 and 0.961) between
percentage ULO biodegradation and MI for 30,
60 and 90 days respectively. Therefore, overall
results conclude the potential application of
A. cepa test to evaluate phytoremediation of soil
contaminated with ULO by using C. retusa L.
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZSpectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite Content in Four Brands of Chicken Sausages
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2732
Spectrophotometric Determination of Nitrite Content in Four Brands of Chicken Sausages
Somarathne, R; Chilki, D; Somapala, EG; De Silva, V; Udawatte, CS
Nitrites are used as preservatives in processed
meat. Although they are beneficial and safe at
permitted levels, they can be carcinogenic when
used in excess. Large doses of nitrites can also lead
to a condition known as methemoglobinemia.
The aim of this study is to determine whether
the nitrite content in four locally available
brands of chicken sausages are within the
permitted levels. The Griess assay was used to
determine the nitrite content in four brands of
chicken sausages available in the local market.
In the Griess assay, nitrites yield a characteristic
dark pink colored complex when reacted with
N-1-napthylethylenediamine dihydrochloride
(NED) under acidic conditions. The optical density
was measured at 540 nm using a UV-Visible
spectrophotometer, and nitrite concentration
was determined from a calibration curve. The
obtained results show brands A, B, C, and D
contained 31.1 mg/kg, 43.1 mg/kg, 96.1 mg/kg
and 1.2 mg/kg of nitrite respectively. According
to the Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 as of
April 1 2017, the amount of sodium nitrite present
should not exceed 200 mg/kg (ppm) in processed
meat. According to our results, the nitrite content
of all brands of sausages used in this study were
within the permitted levels.
2018-01-01T00:00:00ZAssociated Factors for Efficient Development of School Sports System for National Level Sports in Sri Lanka
http://ir.kdu.ac.lk/handle/345/2731
Associated Factors for Efficient Development of School Sports System for National Level Sports in Sri Lanka
Biyanwila, BDLPN; Perera, HPN
Sports have turn out to be a global social
phenomenon. Sports can be used as a platform
for attaining many social goals and resolving
persisting social issues. The development of Sri
Lankan sports depends on many factors and yet
the developments are not satisfactory with regard
to national level sports. The development of
national level sports mainly depends on schools
sports. Therefore, through this study it was
intended to identify the major factors associated
with efficient sports development in schools in Sri
Lanka. Furthermore, it was aimed at identifying
problems faced in development phase, and at
giving suggestions to minimize those problems.
The sample of research was 66 physical education
teachers (n=66) from randomly selected schools
in Kurunegala district. A likert scale structured
questionnaire was used to collected data and data
analysis was conducted using MiniTAB statistical
data analysis software to elaborate the results.
Methods used to analyze data were General
Linear Model and Multiple Linear Regression.
The Cronbach’s alpha obtained with the present
sample was 0848. The findings of the research
indicated that factors like human resources,
physical resources and administration and policies
affect more for the efficient development of school
sports, and factors such as talent identification,
technology and sociocultural determinants
are least influencing factors on efficient sports
development in schools. According to the
research findings it can be concluded that efficient
development of sports in Sri Lankan schools can
be enhanced by developing the human resources,
physical resources and administration policies
which also affect national level sports directly.
2018-01-01T00:00:00Z