The Spatial Distribution Of OH And CN Radicals In The Coma Of Comet Encke

Multiple potential parent species have been proposed to explain CN abundances in comet comae, but the parent has not been definitively identified for all comets. This study examines the spatial distribution of CN radicals in the coma of comet Encke and determines the likelihood that CN is a photodissociative daughter of HCN in the coma. Comet Encke is the shortest orbital period (3.3 years) comet known and also has a low dust-to-gas ratio based on optical observations. Observations of CN were obtained from 2003 October 22 to 24, using the 2.7 m telescope at McDonald Observatory. To determine the parent of CN, the classical vectorial model was modified by using a cone shape in order to reproduce Encke's highly aspherical and asymmetric coma. To test the robustness of the modified model, the spatial distribution of OH was also modeled. This also allowed us to obtain CN/OH ratios in the coma. Overall, we find the CN/OH ratio to be 0.009 +/- 0.004. The results are consistent with HCN being the photodissociative parent of CN, but we cannot completely rule out other possible parents such as CH(3)CN and HC(3)N. We also found that the fan-like feature spans similar to 90 degrees, consistent with the results of Woodney et al..NASAOffice of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development at Mississippi State UniversityMcDonald Observator

Perception on Psychiatric Care Received by Patients Admitted Following Deliberate Self Harm to Three Hospitals in Galle District

Deliberate Self-harm (DSH) adds a significant burden to the health care system in Sri Lanka. Delivering appropriate psychiatric care is crucial to minimize further risk. The objective of this study was to describe perception on psychiatric care received by patients who are admitted following DSH to selected hospitals in Galle District. Sample was taken from a large study which was intended to describe psychiatric management of patients admitted following DSH to 3 tertiary care hospitals in the Southern province of Sri Lanka. Only a sub-sample of 60 patients was taken for the analysis and it was further supplemented with a qualitative component. An interviewer-administered questionnaire (IAQ) was used and a series of in-depth interviews were also conducted. Descriptive statistics were calculated and qualitative data was analyzed separately. As per the results, only 22 (36.7%) were referred to the psychiatry unit and the rest were discharged only after managing their medical problems. A majority (68.2%) told that they were not informed about the need and importance of psychiatric referral. But a larger proportion mentioned that it was good (54.5%) and it brought some relief to them (81.8%). Only a few acknowledged that it helped them to solve their problems (22.7%) and only a very few (13.6%) told that they were embarrassed because of referring to the psychiatry unit. Out of those who had psychiatric referral, only 59.0% were requested to attend for clinic follow up. But only 41.6% intended to come. Upon inquiring about their overall perception about psychiatric referral, almost all gave positive remarks. However, results of this study can be used a baseline and further studies are needed to confirm burden issue related to the health care system in Sri Lanka.  KEYWORDS – Deliberate Self Harm, Psychiatric Car

Feeding Patterns and Milk Production of Small-Scale Dairy Farmers under Semi-Intensive and Extensive Cattle Management Systems in Sri Lanka

The main objective of the present study was to determine the feeding pattern and milk production of small-scale dairy farmers under semi-intensive and extensive management systems in the intermediate zone of Sri Lanka. This region is sandwiched between the Wet and Dry Zones, receives a mean annual rainfall of 1750-2500 mm, and covers an area of about 1.2 million ha. A survey was conducted with 60 farmers and data on their herd size, herd composition and breeds, management system, breeding method, milk production, feeding costs and returns of raising animals were collected. The results indicated that the majority of farmers conducted dairying as a part-time business in both semi-intensive (80%) and extensive (66%) management systems in the study area. The highest (P \u3c 0.05) average herd size was observed under semi-intensive systems (3.7 animal units (AU)), compared to extensive systems (2.7 AU). The farmers under the semi-intensive system maintained better feeding levels compared with the extensive system. The majority of farmers in the area depended on tethering and stall feeding as their main source of animal feed. Grasses grown on roadsides, paddy fields, neighbours’ land, government estates and tree leaves were the main feed resources available for both management systems. Rice (Oriza sativa) bran and coconut (Cocos nucifera) poonac were the main concentrate feed ingredients in the study area. Jersey crosses were the most popular dairy animals among semi-intensively managed farms, whereas Sahiwal crosses were most popular in extensive management systems. The average milk production under extensive systems was significantly lower (P \u3c 0.01) at 3.9 l/AU/day, compared to 5.4 l/AU/day under semi-intensive systems. Semi-intensive management systems also had the highest average monthly return per AU

EVALUATION OF URBAN AIR POLLUTION COST A CASE STUDY IN THE COLOMBO CITY

Air pollution is arguably the most important. in terms of economics cost, of thevarious types of pollution caused by transport and industrial activities and itseffects have been widely studied in other countries. However, direct studies havenot been undertaken to measure the economics cost of air pollution in Sri Lanka.Concern for air pollution in Sri Lanka is focused mainly in Colombo. AlthoughColombo air pollution level is less than many Asian countries, recent monitoringresults show that air pollution from particulate matter and Sulfur is well above theWHO recommended levelThe contingent valuation method was used to estimate the air pollution cost anddata was collected from a contingent valuation survey carried out in the Fort andPettah areas. Respondents' willingness to pay values were obtained for ahypothetical market presented. The results were consistent with the economictheory. Aggregated cost of air pollution for the country was Rs.55 million peryear. This value may help cost benefit analysis of air quality managementprogrammes and other related development policy and programs in Sri Lanka.

Frugivory of Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus) and Seasonal Variation of Fruiting Phenology in Tropical Montane Cloud Forests of Horton Plains National Park, Sri Lanka

This study was conducted on a frugivorous bird species, Yellow-eared Bulbul (Pycnonotus penicillatus) which is an endemic and threatened species, at Horton Plains National Park (HPNP), from September 2015 to November 2017. Direct methods as focal animal sampling and faecal analysis were used to identify food items of P. penicillatus. Feeding plants were identified using field guides. To find out the fruit phenology, ten individuals per plant species were tagged. Fruit cover was estimated in the each tagged tree. According to the present findings, P. penicillatus mainly consumed, 16 species of feeding plants belonging to eleven families. Among them six endemic, eight native and one introduced species were observed. P. penicillatus consumed Rubus ellipticus as their major fruit source. There were seedsof nine plant species were identified by faecal analysis. Maximum ripen fruit cover was recorded from Solanum mauritianum in the northeast monsoon season, first inter-monsoon season and second intermonsoon season. However, in the southwest monsoon season highest ripen fruit cover was recorded from Berberis ceylanica. There was a correlation between number of feeding attempts and ripen fruit cover, of Symplocos bractealis, S. mauritianum and Strobilanthes viscosa. Moreover, there was a correlation between number of feeding attempts and number of trees in fruiting, of Elaeocarpus coreaceus, Passiflora tripartita, Eugenia mabaeoides and S. viscosa. The present study has revealed importance of the floral community to the P. penicillatus. Therefore, it is important to recommend monitoring protocols about the seasonal variations of fruiting phenology in and around HPNP, which are harbouring a large variety of feeding plants of the threatened birds species such as P. penicillatus for conservational purposes. KEYWORDS: Frugivory, Yellow-eared Bulbul, Horton Plains National Park, Seasonal Variation, Tropical Montane Cloud Fores

Characteristics of patients utilizing the Out Patient Department of Colombo South Teaching Hospital and their association with presenting complaints

Objectives: An outpatient department(OPD) serves a vital role in providing health care services. Identification of patient characteristics and their relationship with presenting complaints is important in improving quality of care. Objective of this study was to describe characteristics of patients utilizing OPD at Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH) and their association with presenting complaints.Methods: Cross sectional study was conducted by recruiting 850 subjects who attended OPD by systematic sampling. A pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaire was used. Relevant descriptive statistics were calculated and comparisons were done to elicit statistical significance using p value.Results: Total sample was consisted of 801 subjects giving a non response rate of 5.8%. Mean age was 32.4 (SD+/- 18.5) and highest age group was 26-35. Majority were females (53.6%), were Sinhala (88.6%) Buddhists (79.5%), had secondary education (55.5%), were employed (52.6%) and were married (77.4%). Majority were presented with acute illnesses (75.2%) and also conditions related to respiratory system (48.2%) Cough was the commonest main presenting complaint (18.8%) followed by fever (16.7%) and backache (10.1%). More patients were in younger age group who complained cough as the major problem (p=0.0001). Among those who came with back ache, majority were females (p=0.0003) and from elder age group (p=0.0180).Conclusions: Among patients utilizing OPD of CSTH majority were females, from 26-35 age group, Sinhala, Buddhist, had secondary education and married. Acute respiratory related medical problems were the commonest and cough was the top presenting complaint and most of them were from younger age group

Meningococcal septicaemia reported in an immunocompetent adult: A Case Report

Meningococcal meningitis is caused by the Gram negative diplococcus, Neisseria meningitidis. It is characterized by nonspecific symptoms of fever and constitutional symptoms followed by septic shock   and meningitis.  The characteristic rash is usually not seen in the early course of the illness which may lead to delayed diagnosis, late initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy,  delayed isolation, and chemoprophylaxis of close contacts. Here, we report a case of meningococcal septicaemia in a young male who presented with fever and features of meningitis and subsequently developed the characteristic rash. The importance of early identification of the characteristic skin lesions of meningococcaemia and timely institution of appropriate antibiotic therapy to prevent complications of meningococcal septicaemia are emphasized.</p

‘Scarcity amidst plenty’- A rare combination of enterococcal pulmonary valve endocarditis in a young girl: A case report

Isolated pulmonary valve infective endocarditis (IE) with Enterococcus faecalis in a child with an underlying ventricular septal defect (VSD) is rare. A ten year old girl with a VSD with moderate to severe right ventricular mid cavity obstruction presented with fever and loose stools. Examination did not reveal any peripheral stigmata of IE. Five of six blood cultures sent in two sets 12 hours apart, grew E. faecalis sensitive to β-lactams. 2D echocardiography revealed a 7×4 mm vegetation on the pulmonary valve. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics for 6 weeks. Inflammatory markers normalized by 6 weeks and the vegetation cleared by the 7th week. Amongst the aetiological agents, isolation of Enterococcus faecalis is rare in children and drug resistance is an emerging problem. Enterococcus species related native valve IE needs a prolonged course of therapy with penicillin G/ampicillin together with gentamicin for 4-6 weeks. Heart failure and cerebral embolization are the most commonly encountered complications.</p

The effect of some additives on the thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate)

The thermal degradation of poly(methyl methacrylate), (PMMA), has been studied in the presence of five tin additives (phenyltin trichloride, diphenyltin dichloride, triphenyltin chloride, tin(IV) chloride, tetraphenyltin), five transition metal chlorides (nickel(II) chloride, copper(I) chloride, copper(II) chloride, iron(II) chloride, iron(III) chloride), and diphenyl disulfide. A complete mechanistic interpretation of these reactions is provided. The degradation of three phenyltin chlorides (PhSnCl\sb3, Ph\sb2SnCl\sb2, and Ph\sb3SnCl) proceeds by the initial loss of a phenyl radical with the formation of a tin-based radical, these initially formed radicals interact with the polymer. For tin tetrachloride, the initial step is coordination of the SnCl\sb4 to the carbonyl oxygens of the polymer followed by the loss of methyl chloride from the coordinated complex. The Limiting Oxygen Index of this blend is very high indicating some potential flame retardant activity for compounds of this type. For the blend of PMMA with tetraphenyltin, the degradation proceeds in a mutually-assisted manner with radicals from one material promoting degradation of the other. The thermal degradation of PMMA in the presence of iron(II) chloride, iron(III) chloride, copper(I) chloride, copper(II) chloride, and nickel(II) chloride has been studied by the combined technique of thermogravimetric analysis coupled to a Fourier transform IR spectrometer. In those cases where coordination occurs between the transition metal ion and the carbonyl oxygens of the polymer, there is an effect on the degradation of the polymer; in those cases where coordination does not occur, the degradation is unaffected by the presence of the additive. The presence of methyl chloride as one of the gases evolved is diagnostic for a coordination; when this gas is absent, the degradation of the PMMA proceeds unaffected by the presence of the transition metal ion. Diphenyl disulfide has shown some stabilizing effect on the thermal degradation of PMMA at higher temperatures. Acting as a chain transfer agent, diphenyl disulfide will interact with the macroradicals produced by the polymer and terminate further degradation by producing a high yield of phenylthio-containing oligomer and non-volatile residue. The oxidation of a mixture of thiophenol and methyl methacrylate produces some interesting sulfur compounds, some of them were found in the product mixture of PMMA/PhSSPh reaction. These compounds were separated and identified by the spectroscopic methods and the mechanism for the formation was proposed