Participatory research for agricultural extension in Sri Lanka

This study looks at critical issues connected with low farmer participation in agricultural extension in Sri Lanka. As an experienced agricultural extension worker, the author relies heavily on his personal experience and his colleagues' perceptions to explore the present situation of rural agricultural extension and research processes. The study attempts to generate new extension strategies to increase farmers' active participation in this regard. A review of the literature on participatory research and its applications in developing countries confirms the authors' perceptions. The theme of the study is 'participatory research' approaches to enable local people to share, enhance and analyse their knowledge of life experiences, to plan and to act for their own development. Case studies are used to investigate the applicability of the principles of participatory research to the Sri Lankan situation. The behaviour and attitudes of the agricultural extensionists and the researchers as facilitators, are crucial, in the satisfactory implementation of a participatory research approach. This research study reveals that there should be radical changes in the ways of approaching rural people in the processes of agricultural extension and research. Agricultural extension workers must facilitate humanist programs for rural farmers, involve them in design, delivery and decisions on rural agriculture development programs in Sri Lanka

Evaluation of total n, p, k and organic matter contents of soil amended with paddy husk charcoal coated urea and comparison of the yield of paddy.

Rice production in Sri Lanka has increased considerably during the last three decades as a result of cultivation of high yielding varieties, increase in the area of cultivation under irrigation and heavy use of plant nutrients. Most of the high yielding varieties which are extensively grown throughout the country require recommended levels of fertilizers in order to obtain their potential yields. Therefore, effective and efficient way of fertilizer application is important. Coated fertilizers are widely used to improve the efficiency of fertilizer application. However, the conventional coated fertilizers such as sulphur coated urea and urea super granules are not popular among the rice farmers in Sri Lanka owing to high cost of the coated fertilizers. One of the most sustainable solutions is application of paddy husk charcoal as a coating material to N fertilizer so as to gradually release nitrogenous compounds and making them available for plants. Objectives of this study were to evaluate total N, P K and organic matter of soil amended with paddy husk charcoal coated urea and to compare the yield of paddy production. A field experiment was carried out at Kalugamuwa farmer field in Yala 2010 and Maha 2010/2011. The field was divided into three blocks of equal size (30 m x 5 m) and each block was further subdivided into four plots (5 m x 5 m) and treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design. Treatments were application of (1) chemical fertilizer only, (2) urea coated charcoal only (1/3 of recommended urea) (3) chemical fertilizer and paddy straw compost (compost obtained from anaerobic digestion of paddy straw) and (4) paddy straw compost and urea coated charcoal only. The highest mean grain yield of 12.59kg/plot was obtained with the application of chemical fertilizer followed by charcoal coated urea with compost, chemical fertilizer and charcoal coated urea only for Yala season. Paddy husk charcoal coated urea can potentially be used as a slow releasing nitrogen fertilizer which reduces leaching losses of urea. In addition, coating is less costly and helps reducing the fertilizer cost (70% of urea cost) and contribute to mitigate atmospheric pollution as well as pollution of water bodies

Review on Photomicrography based Full Blood Count (FBC) Testing and Recent Advancements

With advancements in related sub-fields, research on photomicrography in life science is emerging and this is a review on its application towards human full blood count testing which is a primary test in medical practices. For a prolonged period of time, analysis of blood samples is the basis for bio medical observations of living creatures. Cell size, shape, constituents, count, ratios are few of the features identified using DIP based analysis and these features provide an overview of the state of human body which is important in identifying present medical conditions and indicating possible future complications. In addition, functionality of the immune system is observed using results of blood tests. In FBC tests, identification of different blood cell types and counting the number of cells of each type is required to obtain results. Literature discuss various techniques and methods and this article presents an insightful review on human blood cell morphology, photomicrography, digital image processing of photomicrographs, feature extraction and classification, and recent advances. Integration of emerging technologies such as microfluidics, micro-electromechanical systems, and artificial intelligence based image processing algorithms and classifiers with cell sensing have enabled exploration of novel research directions in blood testing applications.

Evaluation of EPAS1 variants for association with bovine congestive heart failure [version 1; peer review: 2 approved]

Background: Bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF) has become increasingly prevalent in feedlot cattle in the Western Great Plains of North America. BCHF is an untreatable complex condition involving pulmonary hypertension that culminates in right ventricular failure and death. A protein variant of hypoxia-inducible factor 2 alpha (HIF2α, encoded by the endothelial PAS domain-containing protein 1 gene, EPAS1) was previously reported to be associated with pulmonary hypertension at altitudes exceeding 2,000 m. Our aim was to evaluate EPAS1 haplotypes for association with BCHF in feedlot cattle raised at moderate altitudes (1,200 m). Methods: Paired samples of clinical cases and unaffected controls were collected at four feedlots in Nebraska and Wyoming. Each pair (n =102) was matched for source, pen, breed type, sex, arrival date, and management conditions. Cases were identified by animal caretakers, euthanized, and diagnosis was confirmed at necropsy. Cases were derived from 30 different ranch operations, with the largest source contributing 32. Animals were tested for eight EPAS1 haplotypes encoding 36 possible different diploid combinations. Results: The common, ancestral EPAS1 haplotype encoding HIF2α with alanine (A) at position 606 and glycine (G) at position 610 was equally frequent in cases and controls (0.67). The EPAS1 variant haplotype reported to be associated with disease (encoding threonine (T) at position 606 and serine (S) at position 610) was not enriched in cases compared with controls (0.21 and 0.25, respectively). Frequencies of other EPAS1 haplotypes (e.g., encoding Q270, L362, or G671) were each less than 0.05 overall. McNemar’s test with 45 discordant pairs showed the linked T606/S610 variant was not associated with BCHF (OR = 0.73, CI 0.38 -1.4, p-value = 0.37). Conclusions: HIF2α polypeptide variants were not significantly associated with BCHF in feedlot cattle at moderate altitudes. Thus, a wider search is needed to identify genetic risk factors underlying this disease

Building local capacities in the operation and management of an integrated solid waste management programme; Experience of Ampara District, Eastern Sri Lanka

Open dumping and burning of wastes in the environmental sensitive areas were common practices in almost all the local authorities in Ampara district. It had become a big threat to public health, the beautiful natural environment and to the local economy. The Local Authorities of the District often faced severe difficulties in the management of solid waste in an environmentally, socially and economically feasible manner. The lack of technical and financial capacities to apply and practice the newly developed waste management guidelines and policies further aggravated this situation.Having identified the gravity  and the importance of this serious environmental issue, the Department of Assistant Commissioner of Local Government of Ampara District, with the financial assistance of the European Union and the technical assistance of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), is currently implementing an Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme (ISWMP) in 12 local authorities of the District. This ISWMP is completely being operated with the full coordination of the District Office of the Central Environmental Authority, Ampara. The UNOPS, as part of its technical assistance, has constructed solid waste management facilities such as 7 engineered landfills, one Waste Transfer Station, 4 Recycling Centers, 5 compost yards, well developed collection systems  as well as provided with capability building/training assistance aiming to establish an effective and efficient solid waste management system for the District. These  facilities are now completed,  already in use and operational. With these facilities in place, and with the continued support from UNOPS in providing institutional and capacity building assistance to the LA officers and staff, haphazard dumping and littering of waste in certain areas of the LAs have now been stopped. Thus 45,000 urban households or 58% of the total urban population are benefitted under thisprogramme with a total collection of 137tonnes of wastes per day through this programme. Out of this 137tonnes of waste, 59 tonnes are collected from cluster systems involving five local authorities while the balance from the other non-clustered Local Authorities.The paper will also present the processes and methodologies to improve the landfill practices from the open dumping practices to controlled tipping and then to engineered landfills  among the implementing local authorities. It will also highlight interventions/strategies to ensure sustainability of the operation and their management through the introduction of a User Fee system/Service Charge which is currently being implemented in 04  Local Authorities. This collected User Fee covers about 80% of cost of collection of waste which would otherwise been spent through their normal budget.Key words: Integrated Solid Waste Management, Ampara, haphazard dumping, controlled tipping, engineered landfill

Fabrication of Pt/Ru Nanoparticle Pair Arrays with Controlled Separation and their Electrocatalytic Properties

Aiming at the investigation of spillover and transport effects in electrocatalytic reactions on bimetallic catalyst electrodes, we have prepared novel, nanostructured electrodes consisting of arrays of homogeneously distributed pairs of Pt and Ru nanodisks of uniform size and with controlled separation on planar glassy carbon substrates. The nanodisk arrays (disk diameter approximate to 60 nm) were fabricated by hole-mask colloidal lithography; the separation between pairs of Pt and Ru disks was varied from -25 nm (overlapping) via +25 nm to +50 nm. Morphology and (surface) composition of the Pt/Ru nanodisk arrays Were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy, the electrochemical/electrocatalytic properties were explored by cyclic voltammetry, COad monolayer oxidation ("COad stripping"), and potentiodynamic hydrogen oxidation. Detailed analysis of the 2 COad oxidation peaks revealed that on all bimetallic pairs these cannot be reproduced by superposition of the peaks obtained on electrodes with Pt/Pt or Ru/Ru pairs, pointing to effective Pt-Ru interactions even between rather distant pairs (50 nm). Possible reasons for this observation and its relevance for the understanding of previous reports of highly active catalysts with separate Pt and Ru nanoparticles are discussed. The results clearly demonstrate that this preparation method is perfectly suited for fabrication of planar model electrodes with well-defined arrays of bimetallic nanodisk pairs, which opens up new possibilities for model studies of electrochemical/electrocatalytic reactions

Serum free light chain measurement aids the diagnosis of myeloma in patients with severe renal failure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Monoclonal free light chains (FLCs) frequently cause rapidly progressive renal failure in patients with multiple myeloma. Immunoassays which provide quantitative measurement of FLCs in serum, have now been adopted into screening algorithms for multiple myeloma and other lymphoproliferative disorders. The assays indicate monoclonal FLC production by the presence of an abnormal κ to λ FLC ratio (reference range 0.26–1.65). Previous work, however, has demonstrated that in patients with renal failure the FLC ratio can be increased above normal with no other evidence of monoclonal proteins suggesting that in this population the range should be extended (reference range 0.37–3.1). This study evaluated the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the immunoassays in patients with severe renal failure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sera from 142 patients with new dialysis-dependent renal failure were assessed by serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), FLC immunoassays and immunofixation electrophoresis. The sensitivity and specificity of the FLC ratio's published reference range was compared with the modified renal reference range for identifying patients with multiple myeloma; by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Forty one patients had a clinical diagnosis of multiple myeloma; all of these patients had abnormal serum FLC ratios. The modified FLC ratio range increased the specificity of the assays (from 93% to 99%), with no loss of sensitivity. Monoclonal FLCs were identified in the urine from 23 of 24 patients assessed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Measurement of serum FLC concentrations and calculation of the serum κ/λ ratio is a convenient, sensitive and specific method for identifying monoclonal FLC production in patients with multiple myeloma and acute renal failure. Rapid diagnosis in these patients will allow early initiation of disease specific treatment, such as chemotherapy plus or minus therapies for direct removal of FLCs.</p

Proteomic analysis of urine in medication-overuse headache patients: possible relation with renal damages

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic disorder associated with overuse of analgesic drugs, triptans, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or other acute headache compounds. Various epidemiologic investigations proved that different drug types could cause nephrotoxicity, particularly in chronic patients. The aim of the present work was to analyze, by a proteomic approach, the urinary protein profiles of MOH patients focusing on daily use of NSAIDs, mixtures and triptans that could reasonably be related to potential renal damage. We selected 43 MOH patients overusing triptans (n = 18), NSAIDs (n = 11), and mixtures (n = 14), for 2–30 years with a mean daily analgesic intake of 1.5 ± 0.9 doses, and a control group composed of 16 healthy volunteers. Urine proteins were analyzed by mono-dimensional gel electrophoresis and identified by mass spectrometry analysis. Comparing the proteomic profiles of patients and controls, we found a significantly different protein expression, especially in the NSAIDs group, in which seven proteins resulted over-secreted from kidney (OR = 49, 95% CI 2.53–948.67 vs. controls; OR = 11.6, 95% CI 0.92–147.57 vs. triptans and mixtures groups). Six of these proteins (uromodulin, α-1-microglobulin, zinc-α-2-glycoprotein, cystatin C, Ig-kappa-chain, and inter-α-trypsin heavy chain H4) were strongly correlated with various forms of kidney disorders. Otherwise, in mixtures and in triptans abusers, only three proteins were potentially associated to pathological conditions (OR = 4.2, 95% CI 0.33–53.12, vs. controls). In conclusion, this preliminary proteomic study allowed us to define the urinary protein pattern of MOH patients that is related to the abused drug. According with the obtained results, we believe that the risk of nephrotoxicity should be considered particularly in MOH patients who abuse of NSAIDs