SEEDLING SURVIVAL AND GROWTH OF NINE LATE-SUCCESSESIONAL SPECIES ACROSS A TOPOGRAPHIC GRADIENT IN SINHARAJA RAIN FOREST

Growth performance of seedlings belong to nine late-successesional canopy treespecies was studied at three different topographic positions (ridgetop, midslopeand valley) in the Sinharaja rain forest, southwest Sri Lanka. Seedlings wereplanted in plots located in valleys, midslops and ridgetops. In each site fourcanopy openings and four adjacent understoreys were selected to plant seedlingsof nine late-successional canopy tree species. Seedling growth and mortality weremonitored for three years.Results demonstrated that a clear difference in survival and growth amongspecies. These differences appeared to be related to the availability of soilmoisture and groundstorey radiation regimes of the forest. SIlOrea distichaexhibits high growth rate than others in each topographic position in each site.Seedlings of Mesua ferrea and Shorea megistophylla exhibit a higher survivalthan other species in canopy openings and understorey conditions of alltopographic positions. Growth performance and survival of their species will bemonitored for several years to study the nich specialization of the latesuccessionalcanopy tree seedlings

COMPETITION AMONG LATE·SUCCESSIONAL TREE SPECIES ACROSS DIFFERENT TOPOGRAPHIC POSITIONS OF A SRI LANKAN RAIN FOREST.

The plant height growth, canopy expansion and foliar nutrients allocations provide theevidence to understand competitive role by canopy species in part of light and soilmoisture gradient. Experiments were designed to investigate competitive outcomes ofnine late-succesional tree seedlings in different light and soil moisture regimes. Treespecies were planted in the canopy gap and forest understory in different topographicpositions; valley, midslope and ridgetop. At the end of every year height, root collardiameter, leaf number and mortality were recorded. Results showed that Shoreatrapezifolia and Syzygium rubicundum can be regarded as the most light demandingspecies with competitive superiors as judged from its height increment, leaf and branchesincrements with crown structure, root collar diameter and leaf nutrients allocatingpattern. At other extremes are Mesua ferrea and Shorea worthingtonii, most which arethe most, shade tolerant and with lower competitive ability in this group. Patterns incompetitive hierarchy among late successional canopy species strongly support sitespecialisation and establishment of regeneratio

Prior exposure of graphic editing, video editing and animation software among new medical entrants at Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya

Introduction: The use of graphic related educational materials is common in modern medicaleducation.Objectives: This study assesses the familiarity of graphic editing software (GES), video editingsoftware (VES) and animation software (AS) among new medical entrants.Methods: Moodle based self-administered questionnaire was given to new medical students who joinedthe Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya in 2017.Results: There were 155 students in the batch where 66 (43%) were males. Thirty-nine percent (n=60)had used GES before entering to the faculty, among them 20% used GES at least once a month and55% reported to have at least an average skill level. Twenty-one percent (n=32) had used VES, amongthem 20% used it at least once and 24 % reported to have at least an average skill level. Ten percent(n=15) had used AS, among them 13% used it at least once and 11% reported to have at least an averageskill level. Students had used GES more than VES (P<0.01) and AS (P<0.01), and VES more than AS(P=0.01) before entering to the faculty.Conclusions: The majority of students had not used GES, VES and AS before entering to the facultyand it would be beneficial to teach this software to medical students. Self-assessment of skill level canunderestimate or overestimate the actual skill level of the student and can be identified as a limitationof the study

Honey, a Gift from Nature to Health and Beauty: A Review

Benefits of honey are contributed by the composition of its elements such as glucose, fructose, glucose oxidase, vitamins and phenolic compounds. For health, honey can be used to treat wounds due to the antibacterial activity conferred by the hydrogen peroxide produced by glucose oxidase in honey. Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, deodorizing and tissue regeneration activities in honey also help in the wound healing process. It can also be an alternative sweetener for diabetic patients to ensure compliance to a healthy diet. Moreover, honey exerts several effects such as lowering low density lipids and increasing high density lipids, thus reducing risk of atherosclerosis. In terms of beauty, honey can be used on skin and hair. It moisturizes skin through its natural humectant properties contributed by high contents of fructose and glucose. Honey treats acne on the skin due to its antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory action and tissue repair. The hair can benefit from honey in such a way that the hair has abundance, and becomes easier to comb. However, there have not been as many studies regarding the use of honey in skin in comparison to its use for health. Therefore, future studies on honey could research its use, action and benefits in both cosmetics and dermatology

The interspecific growth–mortality trade-off is not a general framework for tropical forest community structure

Resource allocation within trees is a zero-sum game. Unavoidable trade-offs dictate that allocation to growth-promoting functions curtails other functions, generating a gradient of investment in growth versus survival along which tree species align, known as the interspecific growth–mortality trade-off. This paradigm is widely accepted but not well established. Using demographic data for 1,111 tree species across ten tropical forests, we tested the generality of the growth–mortality trade-off and evaluated its underlying drivers using two species-specific parameters describing resource allocation strategies: tolerance of resource limitation and responsiveness of allocation to resource access. Globally, a canonical growth–mortality trade-off emerged, but the trade-off was strongly observed only in less disturbance-prone forests, which contained diverse resource allocation strategies. Only half of disturbance-prone forests, which lacked tolerant species, exhibited the trade-off. Supported by a theoretical model, our findings raise questions about whether the growth–mortality trade-off is a universally applicable organizing framework for understanding tropical forest community structure

Mycorrhizal feedbacks influence global forest structure and diversity

One mechanism proposed to explain high species diversity in tropical systems is strong negative conspecific density dependence (CDD), which reduces recruitment of juveniles in proximity to conspecific adult plants. Although evidence shows that plant-specific soil pathogens can drive negative CDD, trees also form key mutualisms with mycorrhizal fungi, which may counteract these effects. Across 43 large-scale forest plots worldwide, we tested whether ectomycorrhizal tree species exhibit weaker negative CDD than arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species. We further tested for conmycorrhizal density dependence (CMDD) to test for benefit from shared mutualists. We found that the strength of CDD varies systematically with mycorrhizal type, with ectomycorrhizal tree species exhibiting higher sapling densities with increasing adult densities than arbuscular mycorrhizal tree species. Moreover, we found evidence of positive CMDD for tree species of both mycorrhizal types. Collectively, these findings indicate that mycorrhizal interactions likely play a foundational role in global forest diversity patterns and structure

Latitudinal patterns in stabilizing density dependence of forest communities

Numerous studies have shown reduced performance in plants that are surrounded by neighbours of the same species1,2, a phenomenon known as conspecific negative density dependence (CNDD)3. A long-held ecological hypothesis posits that CNDD is more pronounced in tropical than in temperate forests4,5, which increases community stabilization, species coexistence and the diversity of local tree species6,7. Previous analyses supporting such a latitudinal gradient in CNDD8,9 have suffered from methodological limitations related to the use of static data10,11,12. Here we present a comprehensive assessment of latitudinal CNDD patterns using dynamic mortality data to estimate species-site-specific CNDD across 23 sites. Averaged across species, we found that stabilizing CNDD was present at all except one site, but that average stabilizing CNDD was not stronger toward the tropics. However, in tropical tree communities, rare and intermediate abundant species experienced stronger stabilizing CNDD than did common species. This pattern was absent in temperate forests, which suggests that CNDD influences species abundances more strongly in tropical forests than it does in temperate ones13. We also found that interspecific variation in CNDD, which might attenuate its stabilizing effect on species diversity14,15, was high but not significantly different across latitudes. Although the consequences of these patterns for latitudinal diversity gradients are difficult to evaluate, we speculate that a more effective regulation of population abundances could translate into greater stabilization of tropical tree communities and thus contribute to the high local diversity of tropical forests

International Consensus Statement on Rhinology and Allergy: Rhinosinusitis

Background: The 5 years since the publication of the first International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Rhinosinusitis (ICAR‐RS) has witnessed foundational progress in our understanding and treatment of rhinologic disease. These advances are reflected within the more than 40 new topics covered within the ICAR‐RS‐2021 as well as updates to the original 140 topics. This executive summary consolidates the evidence‐based findings of the document. Methods: ICAR‐RS presents over 180 topics in the forms of evidence‐based reviews with recommendations (EBRRs), evidence‐based reviews, and literature reviews. The highest grade structured recommendations of the EBRR sections are summarized in this executive summary. Results: ICAR‐RS‐2021 covers 22 topics regarding the medical management of RS, which are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Additionally, 4 topics regarding the surgical management of RS are grade A/B and are presented in the executive summary. Finally, a comprehensive evidence‐based management algorithm is provided. Conclusion: This ICAR‐RS‐2021 executive summary provides a compilation of the evidence‐based recommendations for medical and surgical treatment of the most common forms of RS

A clinical trial of Sri Lankan traditional decoction of Pitawakka Navaya in treatment of Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola (chronic sinusitis)

Authentic Ayurvedic texts mention eleven types of Shiro Roga (diseases in head). Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola, which occurs due to vitiation of Kapha and Vata Dosha, is one of them. Chronic sinusitis is a chronic inflammation of sinuses. It can be correlated with Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola. Decoction of Pitawakka Navaya consists of nine ingredients. They are Bhoomyamalaka, Haritaki, Bharangi, Chavya, Pippali, Salarka, Guduchi, Shunti and Maricha. These herbs, which pacify vitiated Vata Dosha and Kapha Dosha, are used by traditional physicians in Sri Lanka to treat Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola (chronic sinusitis). However, no scientific studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of Pitawakka Navaya in treatment of Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola. Hence, this clinical study has been conducted to evaluate its efficacy.. Sixty patients suffering from Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola were selected and examined. These patients were randomly divided into two groups of thirty patients each. First group was treated with 120 ml of decoction of Pitawakka Navaya twice a day for fourteen days. The second group was treated with 120 ml of placebo twice a day for fourteen days. After treatment, most of the patients’ symptoms were completely or partially relieved. In less than 10% of patients, some symptoms were unchanged or aggravated. It is observed that traditional decoction Pitawakka Navaya is beneficial for Kaphaja Shirsha Shoola (chronic sinusitis)