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Recently, the use of indoor swimming pools and aquatic centres (ACs) have become very popular in cold regions of the world like Canada, which are serving thousands of visitors year-round. ACs provide opportunities for both recreation and physical activity, which potentially improves the quality of life and contribute towards community development. However, these useful facilities face serious performance-related challenges. Deteriorated water quality through various sources, especially the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) has increased the associated health issues. Moreover, an unhealthy indoor environment, high water and energy demands, high capital and operational costs, and common customer dissatisfaction are also major performance issues, which are challenging the sustainability of AC facilities. The management of AC functions with no impetus to assess or improve their facility performance in the absence of a structured performance assessment process. The present research is the first systematic effort for the development of a continuous performance improvement (CPI) framework to holistically assess, benchmark and improve the performance of ACs. This study is completed in four phases. Phase 1 proposed the CPI framework, identified and selected performance indicators (PIs). Phase 2 investigated the combined effects of design and management factors on DBPs concentrations using empirical models. Phase 3 developed a performance benchmarking model for self and comparative assessment. Phase 4 developed an optimization model to identify optimum levels of the operational process. The CPI framework adopted in this study holistically covers all the processes and operations of an AC facility. Further, the results of this research help in decision-making at different levels of the organizational hierarchy AC facilities. It can be used to infer the performance of the facility at multilevel (facility level, key components level and subcomponents level). The main outcome of this research is the development of the best management practices to improve performance and control DBPs in the indoor swimming environment and mitigate the potential human health risk. This study will assist AC managers in allocating available resources for both the short-term (e.g., efficient response to complaints) and long-term (e.g., replacing failed manually operated fixtures with the sensor-operated ones) improvement actions. This research will help the ACs in achieving the goal of sustainable development of recreational facilities in cold regions of the world.

Human bodies encompass very important symbiotic and mutualistic relationships with tiny creatures known as microbiota. Trillions of these tiny creatures including protozoa, viruses, bacteria, and fungi are present in and on our bodies. They play important roles in various physiological mechanisms of our bodies. In return, our bodies provide them with the habitat and food necessary for their survival. In this review, we comprehend the gut microbial species present in various regions of the gut. We can get benefits from microbiota only if they are present in appropriate concentrations, as if their concentration is altered, it will lead to dysbiosis of microbiota which further contributes to various health ailments. The composition, diversity, and functionality of gut microbiota do not remain static throughout life as they keep on changing over time. In this review, we also reviewed the various biotic and abiotic factors influencing the quantity and quality of these microbiota. These factors serve a significant role in shaping the gut microbiota population.

The last few decades have seen a rapid increase in the use of ionic liquids (ILs) as a green alternative to traditional solvents in organic synthesis. The use of ILs as catalysts has also increased in recent years. Herein we the report synthesis of new N,N-dimethylpyridin-4-amine (DMAP) based ionic liquids (ILs) as new and efficient catalysts for the facile synthesis of indoles (via Fischer indole synthesis), and 1H-tetrazoles (via click chemistry). The method is environmentally friendly, requiring only minimum catalyst loading (0.2 equiv. for Fischer indole synthesis). In the case of 1H-tetrazole formation (via click chemistry), the reaction was carried out under a solvent free environment. Moreover, thermal studies (TGA, DTG and DSC) of DMAP-ILs (2, 3) have also been carried out to elicit their stability for temperature dependent reactions. Application of molecular dynamics simulations provided valuable insights into the structural and transport properties of these ionic liquids. An MP2 method was applied to evaluate the stability of the compound via binding energy calculations.

As tourism is the mainstay of the Maldives’ economy, this country recognizes the importance of controlling mosquito-borne diseases in an environmentally responsible manner. This study sought to estimate the economic costs of dengue in this Small Island Developing State of 417,492 residents. The authors reviewed relevant available documents on dengue epidemiology and conducted site visits and interviews with public health offices, health centers, referral hospitals, health insurers, and drug distribution organizations. An average of 1,543 symptomatic dengue cases was reported annually from 2011 through 2016. Intensive waste and water management on a resort island cost $1.60 per occupied room night. Local vector control programs on inhabited islands cost $35.93 for waste collection and $7.89 for household visits by community health workers per person per year. Ambulatory care for a dengue episode cost $49.87 at a health center, while inpatient episodes averaged $127.74 at a health center, $1,164.78 at a regional hospital, and $1,655.50 at a tertiary referral hospital. Overall, the cost of dengue illness in the Maldives in 2015 was $2,495,747 (0.06% of gross national income, GNI, or $6.10 per resident) plus $1,338,141 (0.03% of GNI or $3.27 per resident) for dengue surveillance. With tourism generating annual income of $898 and tax revenues of $119 per resident, results of an international analysis suggest that the risk of dengue lowers the country’s gross annual income by $110 per resident (95% confidence interval $50 to $160) and its annual tax receipts by $14 per resident (95% confidence interval $7 to $22). Many innovative vector control efforts are affordable and could decrease future costs of dengue illness in the Maldives., Author summary As tourism is the mainstay of the Maldives’ economy, this country recognizes the importance of controlling mosquito-borne diseases in an environmentally responsible manner. This study sought to estimate the economic costs of dengue in this Small Island Developing State of 417,492 residents with an annual average of 1,543 reported symptomatic dengue cases. Overall, the cost of dengue illness in the Maldives in 2015 was $3 million ($6.10 per resident) and surveillance cost an additional $1 million ($3.27 per resident). The risk of dengue lowers the country’s gross annual income by $110 per resident and its annual tax receipts by $14 per resident. Rigorous elimination of debris on some resort islands demonstrates effective and environmentally sound vector control. Many innovative vector control efforts are affordable and could decrease future costs of dengue illness in the Maldives.

Objective: This study was aimed to “Evaluate the Nootropic activity of newly synthesized GABA derivative in Mice” Methodology: The activity of the Test drug studied using the Actophotometer test model in swiss albino mice. Learning and memory parameters were evaluated using Open field test. The Test drug was administered in dose of50mg/kg body weight i.p. to the respective groups. Piracetam (200mg/kg,i.p.) was used as astandard nootropic agent. Results: It was observed Test drug at a dose of 50mg/kg (i.p.) was administered and subjected to locomoter activity in Actophotometer Test, exhibited a significant behavioral activity in Actophotometer test and Open field test. Its effect is clearly seen by the decreased in motility rate i.e., response to the decreased in activity is said to be depressant, anxiolytic and inhibitory effects on the CNS. Conclusion:N-plthaloyl GABA derivativehas inhibitory effects which may be processed by the GABAnergic action of the drug. Enhancement of GABA by the drug under study may prove to be a useful memory restorative agentinthe treatment of dementia seen in Alzheimer’s disease. Hence, further studies are required to know the exact mechanism. Key Words: N-pthaloyl GABA, Alzheimer’s disease, Picrotoxin, Nootropic.