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Identifying similar protein sequences is a core step in many computational biology pipelines such as detection of homologous protein sequences, generation of similarity protein graphs for downstream analysis, functional annotation, and gene location. Performance and scalability of protein similarity search have proven to be a bottleneck in many bioinformatics pipelines due to increase in cheap and abundant sequencing data. This work presents a new distributed-memory software PASTIS. PASTIS relies on sparse matrix computations for efficient identification of possibly similar proteins. We use distributed sparse matrices for scalability and show that the sparse matrix infrastructure is a great fit for protein similarity search when coupled with a fully-distributed dictionary of sequences that allow remote sequence requests to be fulfilled. Our algorithm incorporates the unique bias in amino acid sequence substitution in search without altering basic sparse matrix model, and in turn, achieves ideal scaling up to millions of protein sequences.

TiO2‐based composite photocatalysts are currently being explored to address concerns intrinsic to TiO2, specifically high charge carrier recombination and UV light activation. Among various materials utilized for composite formation, carbon nanomaterials stand out due to their high electron conductivity, charge storage, photosensitization, and surface properties. However, high carbon content in composites has been shown to reduce performance with potential toxicity concerns. To harness the diverse properties of carbon nanomaterials in a single composite while optimizing the carbon content below 1% by weight, multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT)/TiO2 sensitized by carbon nanodots (CND) are synthesized. The heterojunction formed between MWCNTs and TiO2 in the binary composite reduced the charge carrier recombination rate compared to TiO2. The addition of CNDs to MWCNT/TiO2 induced visible light absorbance of the resulting ternary composite, due to the forbidden electron transitions undergone in CND aggregates. CND/MWCNT/TiO2 exhibited a fivefold and 1.6‐fold increase in photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7 and tetracycline under visible light compared to TiO2. This enhancement is attributed to the photosensitizing property of CNDs working in synergy with the charge storage ability of MWCNTs. A plausible charge transfer pathway for the activity of CND/MWCNT/TiO2 is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional Magnéli phase titanium suboxide syntheses often involve highly flammable H2 gas, extensive precursor pretreatment and yield unwanted TiC or TiOxCy byproducts. To overcome these limitations, this work introduces a low-cost, safe and scalable carbothermal reduction synthesis method that eliminates the need for H2 or pretreatment and does not produce carbon-based titanium byproducts. Magnéli phases were generated without physical contact between the bulk organic that acted as the reductant and TiO2. Activated charcoal served as the reductant, reducing TiO2 under an Ar flow, thus limiting O2. The phase transition from anatase TiO2 to Magnéli phases was studied as a function of reduction time. Critical assessment of surface and bulk defects in the series of Magnéli titanium suboxides synthesised revealed a possible redistribution of defects within the lattice with time while maintaining a constant total defect content. Optical property analysis indicated that increasing oxygen deficiency led to increased inter-bandgap absorbance and prolonged lifetime of the photogenerated charge carriers. Oxygen deficiencies exhibited a direct correlation with the water evaporation rate when these Magnéli phase titanium suboxides were applied in solar steam generation. This was attributed to reduced thermal conductivities with increasing oxygen vacancies due to increased phonon scattering by planar defects. The defect-rich Magnéli suboxide sample consisting mainly of Ti6O11 with a remarkably low thermal conductivity of <0.032 W m−1 K−1 at 25 °C showed a solar energy conversion efficiency of 56% when applied in an aerogel for solar steam generation. This method provides flexibility for fabricating materials tailored for diverse applications requiring specific defect concentrations or thermoelectric performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Delineates the need to make rural education more relevant to rural students in developing nations, stressing limitations in traditional Western approaches. Advocates rural pedagogy that encourages lifelong learning and develops community resources. Provides a case study of a rural pedagogy program in Sri Lanka. (CH)

With the emergency situation that arises with COVID-19, the intense containment strategies adopted by many countries had little or no consideration towards socio-economic ramifications or the impact on women, children, socioeconomically underprivileged groups. The existence of many adverse impacts raises questions on the approaches taken and demands proper analysis, scrutiny and review of the policies. Therefore, a framework was developed using the artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to detect, model, and predict the behaviour of the COVID-19 pandemic containment strategies, understanding the socio-economic impact of these strategies on identified diverse vulnerable groups, and the development of AI-based solutions, to predict and manage a future spread of COVID or similar infectious disease outbreaks while mitigating the social and economic toil. Based on generated behaviour and movements, AI tools were developed to conduct contact tracing and socio-economic impact mitigation actions in a more informed, socially conscious and responsible manner in the case of the next wave of COVID-19 infections or a different future infectious disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reports a case study of the village of Illukwewa, Sri Lanka, which examined traditional technologies, life skills and the feasibility of implementing formal learning programs based on these methods. Makes recommendations on focusing the learning process toward formal education. (KO)

Describes and evaluates a project undertaken to reform teacher training in Sri Lanka so that it would be more focused toward community development. Major successes of the program were that it helped educators understand the potential resources available at the village level and encouraged them to stress multi-disciplinary approaches toward teaching and learning. (DB)