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Background: Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) is a widely used tool to assess functional capacity among patients, but there is no Sinhala version validated for patients in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to cross-culturally adapt and test the validity and reliability of the Sinhala version of DASI (DASI-S). Methods: The translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the DASI questionnaire were conducted following the standard guidelines. It was pre-tested on ten pre-operative patients and further modified. The construct validity and reliability of DASI-S were evaluated by administering the modified final DASI-S, which comprised 12 items, along with the physical functioning sub-scale of the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36), consisting of 10 items to eighty-one patients who were awaiting non-cardiac surgeries at university surgical wards, National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL), and Colombo North Teaching Hospital (CNTH), Sri Lanka. Reliability was assessed through Cronbach alpha, while the validity was evaluated using factor analysis and Spearman's correlation. The ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics Review Committee, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka. Results: The mean age of the participants was 46.2 (± 16.6) years and the majority were females (54.3%). The mean height, weight, and body mass index of the sample were 160.5 (± 9.6) cm, 60.3 (± 11.9) kg, and 23.4 (± 4.5) kgm−2 respectively. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the internal consistency of DASI-S was 0.861. The concurrent validity of DASI-S was substantiated by positively correlating (p < 0.01, rs = 0.466) with the physical sub-scale of SF-36. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in the total score of DASI-S between the two age groups. Conclusions: Sinhala version of the DASI appears to be a valid, reliable and easy-to-administer tool to assess functional capacity among patients who are awaiting non-cardiac surgeries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

King coconut (Cocos nucifera var. aurantiaca) is a tropical nut with notable nutritional and medicinal values. King coconut water (KCW) and king coconut kernel (KCK) are sweet and refreshing. They undergo several changes during maturation. The objective of this study was to assess the physico-chemical changes of KCW and KCK with maturity. Three different maturity stages (6, 7, and 8 months) of the variety aurantica, known locally as 'Nawasi Thembili' were studied for several physico-chemical parameters. Whole nut weight (g), nut-circumference (cm), colour (water/kernel) (*L), nut-water volume (mL), kernel weight (g), and kernel thickness (mm) were assessed as physical parameters, while pH, total soluble solids (oBrix), titratable acidity (as % ascorbic acid), total sugars (g/100g; g/100mL), and minerals (mg/L; mg/kg) were analysed as chemical attributes. Sugars were estimated using Agilent 1260 HPLC and ICP-MS was used to measure the mineral profile. Results revealed that all the tested physical parameters of KCW and KCK increased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity. The pH, TSS, total sugars, and acidity of KCW increased significantly (p < 0.05), while mineral content decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity. However, the TSS and minerals of KCK decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with maturity and a higher sucrose content was reported in KCK compared to KCW at later maturity. The Ca+2 and Mg+2 were prominent in both KCW and KCK. The study concluded that the physico-chemical characteristics varied widely with the maturity of king coconuts. The selection of optimum harvest maturity to match the preferred attributes of intended applications is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clay bricks are a popular building material, especially in historical structures. Understanding the chemical and mechanical properties of bricks is vital in historical structure rehabilitation attempts, because discrepancies in the material could lead to accelerated degradation and structural failure. This research focuses on understanding the mechanical and chemical properties of clay bricks used in the world heritage city of Kandy, Sri Lanka, over the chronological period of the 18th to the 21st centuries. Chronological analysis of brick properties reveals that optimal mechanical properties in bricks are closely related to the water absorption rate and are found to be between 10% and 18% in the analyzed specimens. Further, regional mineralogical properties, such as high concentration of calcium and inclusion of barium (Ba), potassium (K), strontium (Sr), and titanium (Ti) as trace elements, were visible in most samples regardless of the year the brick was produced. The analysis also identified revealed that the inclusion of ferrous (Fe) increases performance. Assuring similar chemical characteristics in restoration material is important to avoid chemical imbalances leading to accelerated deterioration due to the presence of reactive metals in the brick composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To establish the role of periodontal pathobionts as a risk factor for myocardial infarction, we examined the contribution of five periodontal pathobionts and their virulence genes' expressions to myocardial injury (Troponin-I) and coronary artery disease burden (SYNTAX-I scores) using hierarchical linear regression. Pathobiont loads in subgingival-plaques and intra-coronary-thrombi were compared. Troponin-I release increased with one 16S rRNA gene copy/ng DNA of Porphyromonas gingivalis (β = 6.8 × 10–6, 95% CI = 1.1 × 10–7–2.1 × 10–5), one-fold increased expressions of fimA (β = 14.3, 95% CI = 1.5–27.1), bioF-3 (β = 7.8, 95% CI = 1.1–12.3), prtH (β = 1107.8, 95% CI = 235.6–2451.3), prtP (β = 6772.8, 95% CI = 2418.7–11,126.9), ltxA (β = 1811.8, 95% CI = 217.1–3840.8), cdtB (β = 568.3, 95% CI = 113.4–1250.1), all p < 0.05. SYNTAX-I score increased with one 16S rRNA gene copy/ng DNA of Porphyromonas gingivalis (β = 3.8 × 10–9, 95% CI = 3.6 × 10–10-1.8 × 10–8), one-fold increased expressions of fimA (β = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.1–2.1), bioF-3 (β = 1.1, 95% CI = 1–5.2), prtP (β = 3, 95% CI = 1.3–4.6), ltxA (β = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.2–2.5), all p < 0.05. Within-subject Porphyromonas gingivalis and Tannerella forsythia from intra-coronary-thrombi and subgingival-plaques correlated (rho = 0.6, p < 0.05). Higher pathobiont load and/or upregulated virulence are risk factors for myocardial infarction. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04719026. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]