The effect of chlorhexidine gluconate on the germ tube formation of Candida albicans and its relatedness to post-antifungal effect

published_or_final_versio

Hatching and rearing of gourami, (Osphronemus goramy, Lacepede) in the Polonnaruwa nursery

Gourami have been maintained as spawners in the ponds of the Fisheries Station at Polonnaruwa since 1957, for the production of fingerlings needed for the stocking of the inland waters. The procedure adopted for the rearing of these fingerlings (see Ling 1962, Indrasena, and de Silva, 1964, for details) is briefly descripted

Hatching and rearing of carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in the Polonnaruwa nursery

Carp fingerlings have been raised at Polonnaruwa since 1957 (Ling, 1962), by a method essentially the same as that described by Hora and Pillay (1962). The present work was initiated to assess and increase the efficiency of the nursery. Two experiments were carried out. In the first, 3 females and 6 males were used. Thirty bundles of Hydrilla were tied to the 3 strings and 10 of them taken at random were used for egg counts. In the second experiment the same number of fish was used but 36 bundles of Hydrilla were tied to the 3 strings and 9 of these taken at random for egg counts. The results of these 2 experiments are given in Table l

A preliminary study of two village tanks (reservoirs) in the Polonnaruwa area with biological notes on these reservoirs in Ceylon

The present study was initiated in conjunction with a project to utilize some of these small tanks as fishponds by introducing desirable species like Tilapia mossambica Peters and harvesting them at the end of a single season which may vary from 4-8 months depending on the reservoir. Two reservoirs Timbirigaswewa and Dalukanawewa were chosen for this study. Both of these are in the Polonnaruwa area (Fig. 1). Timbirigaswewa (Fig 4) is as all rain fed tank of about 30 acres while Dalukanawewa (Fig. 2) is stream fed with an acreage of just over 100

Aqueous Extract of Flueggea leucopyrus Increases Urine Output in Rats

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Flueggea leucopyrus Wild aqueous extract (FLAE) on the urinary output of rats.Method: Three different doses of FLAE (500, 1000 and 1500 mgkg-1), furosemide (13 mg kg-1 as diuretic reference) and distilled water (as control) were orally administered to healthy adult hydrated rats. Cumulative urine output was monitored hourly over 6 h. Selected urinary parameters were determined for 1500 mg kg-1 dose, furosemide, and water-treated groups to investigate the possible mode of action. Using these data, standard urine indices were calculated. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in terms of creatinine clearance, overt toxicity, renal toxicity, liver toxicity, as well as phytochemical screening were also determined.Results: The highest dose (1500 mgkg-1) significantly increased urine output (control vs. treated: 0.74 ± 0.07 vs. 1.38 ± 0.09 mL/100 g) (p < 0.05) r2 = 0.925). The effect of FLAE was dose-dependent. Increase in urine output was observed from the 1st hour, peaked at 2nd hour and lasted till the 6th hour. Furthermore, 1500 mgkg-1 dose of FLAE caused a significant (p < 0.05) increase in urinary K+ level, aldosterone secretion index, thiazide secretion index and GFR at 24 h. However, significant decrease in urinary Na+ level (control vs. treated: 7915.2 ± 423.1 vs. 6611.2 ± 181.3 ppm) was noted with the highest dose (p < 0.05). Serum alanine transaminase (ALT), serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and urea levels were not altered significantly (p > 0.05). However, serum creatinine level was elevated significantly (p < 0.05). Phytochemical screening showed that FLAE contains primary, secondary, tertiary, quaternary alkaloids/amine oxides, triterpenoids, unsaturated sterols, leucoanthocyanins, tannins of pyrogallol type and cyanogenic glycoside.Conclusion: The results show that FLAE exhibits moderate oral aquaretic activity.Keywords: Flueggea leucopyrus, Diuretic, Aquaretic, Urine output, Toxicity, Phytochemica

Impacts of PAFE on the relative CSH of Candida albicans

published_or_final_versio

The role of climate and islands in species diversification and reproductive-mode evolution of Old World tree frogs

Large diversifications of species are known to occur unevenly across space and evolutionary lineages, but the relative importance of their driving mechanisms, such as climate, ecological opportunity and key evolutionary innovations (KEI), remains poorly understood. Here, we explore the remarkable diversification of rhacophorid frogs, which represent six percent of global amphibian diversity, utilize four distinct reproductive modes, and span a climatically variable area across mainland Asia, associated continental islands, and Africa. Using a complete species-level phylogeny, we find near-constant diversification rates but a highly uneven distribution of species richness. Montane regions on islands and some mainland regions have higher phylogenetic diversity and unique assemblages of taxa; we identify these as cool-wet refugia. Starting from a centre of origin, rhacophorids reached these distant refugia by adapting to new climatic conditions (‘niche evolution’-dominant), especially following the origin of KEIs such as terrestrial reproduction (in the Late Eocene) or by dispersal during periods of favourable climate (‘niche conservatism’-dominant)

Relationship between Occurrence of Birds and Vegetation Structure of Riparian Habitats

Riparian lands and their vegetation provide important habitat for terrestrial animals includingbirds. Even though riparian lands may occupy only a small percentage of the catchmentlandscape they provide nesting and feeding habitats for a large number of bird species. Butdue to construction of dams, human uses of riparian vegetation, logging, road construction,livestock grazing and sand mining riparian habitats are depleting in Sri Lanka. The presentstudy was aimed to compare habitat use by birds with available riparian vegetation, and tocompare bird population characteristics among riparian habitats with different vegetationstructure. In order to achieve the objectives, occurrence of birds was studied in two differentriparian systems; ‘Loggal oya’ and ‘Minipe’ area of Mahaweli River which are having twodifferent vegetation structures. There are significant differences in the abundance of canopyvegetation and understory vegetation and no such difference in abundance of groundvegetation between two sites. 500 m line transects with a width of 40 m were placed parallelto the stream flow and birds were recorded. Birds were recorded for 10 minutes at each of 10equally spaced stations along the transect and while moving between stations. Species andnumber of birds were recorded. Seventy four bird species were observed with a highestdiversity in the Loggal oya (H’=2.58 with respect to H’=2.42 in Minipe). Bird density wasalso higher in the Loggal oya with a significant difference. Canonical correspondanceanalysis showed that Canopy cover is the highest contributing factor for the distribution ofbirds. A positive correaltion was observed between the vegetation structure and theabundance of birds thus, concluding that riparian habitats are imporatant areas for birds for itssurvival. By understanding the associations between birds and habitat, management activitiescan be implemented to provide appro-priate habitat for desired species