A holistic approach to ensure food security through cascade system development in the dry zone of Sri Lanka: a practice from Plan Sri Lanka

The lack of food security is caused by the disruption of agrarian systems, land fragmentation, lack of irrigable land, indebtedness and poor post harvest technology. The additional factors that are shown in secondary data are variable and erratic precipitation of farmer communities, poor development of hydraulic infrastructure and lack of access to water for domestic and productive uses, all of which further exacerbate poverty levels. The economy of dry zone Sri Lanka is principally dependent on agriculture, on which over 85% of its population depend. As the rainfall distribution is largely unpredictable and uneven, communities have to rely, in addition to rainfall, on a system of complex cascade systems consisting of interdependent reservoirs (called ‘tanks’). This ancient system strikes a delicate balance between water management and the physical and social environment. The condition of the cascades is vital for improving the availability of water in the community throughout the year. Tanks support the irrigation needs of farming households, and a variety of other uses – drinking, bathing and other domestic uses. It is a deep rooted idea that irrigation infrastructure development is vital to address water related development issues. But, it is only a part of a broader range of necessary actions that need to be taken. In addition to physical improvement or physical capital improvements, the provision, retention and management of water in a water scarce environment depends on social, financial, natural and human capital that requires equal priority in development and protection. Having realized the integrated nature of the systems of survival, ‘Plan Sri Lanka’ has designed and is implementing a holistic community development approach to cascade rehabilitation in the Anuradhapura District. The program involves restoration activities in five cascades covering 29 irrigation tanks that were selected based on hydrological viability .Farmer organizations that carry out tank restoration activities were provided technical support to ensure continuing follow-up operation and maintenance. They were also given training on appropriate farm technology and watershed management. Cascade management committees composed of stakeholder representatives were also organized to coordinate development activities and resolve conflicts. Integrated agriculture schemes that incorporate suitable farming systems and improved cropping practices were introduced. The approach identified the challenges that needed to be addressed and learning that was required by conventional approaches to water and food scarcity. These aspects could be addressed through comprehensive strategies that address a more holistic spectrum of issues. The paper discusses Plan Sri Lanka’s experiences and lessons learned in implementing social, financial, physical and natural capital interventions that put the cascade as the operational unit for development. It will examine practical constraints and limitations that are faced in the implementation stage and the institutional and operational requirements which are to be discussed for further improvement in this kind of approach.Length: pp.101-108TanksWatershedsDevelopment projectsFood securityFisheries

Filarial nematode exosome-like vesicles (ELVs): Functional significance and control relevance

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a neglected tropical disease that affects over 120 million people worldwide and is caused by three filarial nematodes including Brugia malayi. Despite mass drug administration (MDA) to populations at risk for over 17 years, LF still remains a global health concern. Parasitism depends on specific interactions between the parasite and host. Our efforts of understanding these intricate interactions revealed a novel mechanism through which Brugia actively delivers small regulatory RNA and proteins to the host tissues via exosomes-like vesicles (ELV). Proteomics reveal stage and gender specific cargo, including proteins with potential immunomodulatory capacity. This suggests not only stage specific modulation of the host but also potential sexual dimorphism, and supports the hypothesis that these vesicles are released by the parasite to cater to its survival within the host. We have shown that these ELVs are functional and elicit a stage specific response in host macrophages, further supporting the above hypothesis. Further exploration of the possibility of exploiting these ELVs in disease control efforts revealed that exosomal release in these parasites is inhibited by current anthelmintics used to treat LF including ivermectin (IVM). Previous studies suggest a host component in parasite clearance by IVM and the fact that ELV release is inhibited by IVM not only supports this hypothesis but also provides evidence for how such a mechanism might take place. If our hypothesis that ELVs are released by these parasites to immunomodulate the host to aid in survival within the host is true, then inhibition of these vesicle by IVM leaves the parasites vulnerable to host defense mechanisms, thereby allowing effective parasite clearance. The use of ELV release inhibition as a platform for screening novel drugs resulted in the identification of a panel of L-type calcium channel inhibitors that block exosomal release in these parasites more potently than IVM. Current diagnostic methods for LF are suboptimal and here we demonstrate proof of principle of using miRNA as biomarkers for more accurate diagnosis. Collectively our results reveal a novel mechanism in Brugia and demonstrate the potential of exploiting it in a wide spectrum of control efforts

ANTIOXIDATIVE AND ANTIBACTERIAL POTENTIALS OF FUNGAL ENDOPHYTES FROM JUSTICIA WYNAADENSIS HEYNE: AN ETHNOMEDICINAL RAIN FOREST SPECIES OF WESTERN GHATS

Objective: Endophytes, living within the medicinal plants, are recognized as an alternative source of bioactive components useful for human health. This study aims to isolate and identify the fungal endophytes from the ethnomedicinal rain forest plant Justicia wynaadensis and evaluation of their antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials. Methods: Endophytic fungi were isolated and identified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer. The secondary metabolites were extracted with ethyl acetate and evaluated for the total phenolic, flavonoid, antioxidant, and antibacterial potentials. The antioxidative capacities were determined using different experimental models, viz., radical scavenging capacity, reducing power, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The antibacterial potential of extracts was determined through disc diffusion method and by evaluating minimum inhibitory concentration through microplate technique. Results: A total of nine fungal endophytes belonging to six genera were identified. The total phenolic content of the extracts ranged from 4.8±0.08 to 20.74±0.96 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract. Flavonoid was present in eight extracts in the range of 2.1±0.08 to 8.75±0.6 mg catechin equivalent/g dry extract. Fusarium incarnatum was found to have potentially high antioxidant capacity as well as broad spectrum antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Conclusion: This study reported various endophytic fungi from the plant J. wynaadensis. This is the first attempt to explore the treasure of endophytes and their bioactive potentiality from this plant. Hence, our findings encourage the exploration of these fungi and exploit them in search of potential drug discovery

Organogenesis from cotyledon and hypocotyl-derived explants of japhara (Bixa orellana L.)

A protocol for direct organogenesis in Bixa orellana (pink flowers variety) has been developed with significant organogenic response from rooted hypocotyls, hypocotyl segments, and cotyledonary leaf explants on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L–1 thidiazuron and 0.25% coconut water or 7.0 mg L–1 N6-Benzyladenine and 0.1 mg L–1 a-naphthalene acetic acid. Thidiazuron in combination with coconut water promoted higher organogenic response in rooted hypocotyls. Similarly direct organogenesis was noticed from hypocotyls, cotyledonary leaf explants and shoot tip explants on half MS medium with 0.25 mg L–1 N6-Benzyladenine (BA) and 0.5 mg L–1 indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Best shoot elongation of shoot buds was achieved in the presence of 1.5 mg L–1 (BA) + 1.0 mg L–1indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The in vitro rooting of microshoots was good in the presence of 3.0 mg L–1 (IBA). Seventy percent of rooted plants survived after acclimatization

Rabies elimination research: juxtaposing optimism, pragmatism and realism

More than 100 years of research has now been conducted into the prevention, control and elimination of rabies with safe and highly efficacious vaccines developed for use in human and animal populations. Domestic dogs are a major reservoir for rabies, and although considerable advances have been made towards the elimination and control of canine rabies in many parts of the world, the disease continues to kill tens of thousands of people every year in Africa and Asia. Policy efforts are now being directed towards a global target of zero human deaths from dog-mediated rabies by 2030 and the global elimination of canine rabies. Here we demonstrate how research provides a cause for optimism as to the feasibility of these goals through strategies based around mass dog vaccination. We summarize some of the pragmatic insights generated from rabies epidemiology and dog ecology research that can improve the design of dog vaccination strategies in low- and middle-income countries and which should encourage implementation without further delay. We also highlight the need for realism in reaching the feasible, although technically more difficult and longer-term goal of global elimination of canine rabies. Finally, we discuss how research on rabies has broader relevance to the control and elimination of a suite of diseases of current concern to human and animal health, providing an exemplar of the value of a ‘One Health’ approach

Aplikasi Pendukung Desain Interior dengan Sistem Rekomendasi Berdasarkan Nama Brand Perabot Menggunakan Algoritma Content-Based Filtering Berbasis Web

Aplikasi perancangan desain interior dengan 3D Model memiliki kekurangan dalam memberikan panduan ide desain kepada pengguna baru dan tidak terdapat rekomendasi perabot yang dapat digunakan dalam desain berdasarkan selera pengguna. Sudah semestinya aplikasi 3D Model ruang menyediakan kemudahan bagi pengguna untuk mendapatkan ide desain dan rekomendasi perabot berdasarkan selera pengguna. Hal inilah yang melatarbelakangi penulis untuk memberikan solusi aplikasi pendukung desain interior. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk membantu para pengguna agar menemukan ide desain ruangan yang sesuai dengan kebutuhan dan keinginan. Algoritma Text Preprocessing adalah tahapan untuk mempersiapkan teks menjadi data yang akan mengalami pengolahan pada tahapan berikutnya. Sistem rekomendasi Content-Based Filtering dengan algoritma Term Frequency ?¢â?¬â?? Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) digunakan untuk memberikan bobot pada tiap kata yang terdapat pada nama item perabot. Algoritma Cosine Similarity diterapkan untuk menemukan kemiripan antara nama item perabot berdasarkan hasil pembobotan pada metode Term Frequency ?¢â?¬â?? Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF), pada hasil akhir diharapkan dapat membantu pengguna untuk mendapatkan hasil rekomendasi dari perabot yang disukai melalui ide desain perabot yang telah disediakan. Hasil pengujian dari algoritma ini adalah dengan menggunakan metode confusion matrix yang menunjukkan bahwa nilai precision 72%, recall 72%, accuracy 72%, dan error rate 51%, lalu berdasarkan hasil uji perangkat lunak menggunakan Black-Box Testing dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa perangkat lunak secara fungsional mengeluarkan hasil 96% sesuai dengan yang diharapkan

Stable phase-shift despite quasi-rhythmic movements: a CPG-driven dynamic model of active tactile exploration in an insect

Harischandra N, Krause AF, Dürr V. Stable phase-shift despite quasi-rhythmic movements: a CPG-driven dynamic model of active tactile exploration in an insect. Frontiers in Computational Neuroscience. 2015;9: 107.An essential component of autonomous and flexible behaviour in animals is active exploration of the environment, allowing for perception-guided planning and control of actions. An important sensory system involved is active touch. Here, we introduce a general modelling framework of Central Pattern Generators (CPGs) for movement generation in active tactile exploration behaviour. The CPG consists of two network levels: (i) phase-coupled Hopf oscillators for rhythm generation, and (ii) pattern formation networks for capturing the frequency and phase characteristics of individual joint oscillations. The model captured the natural, quasi-rhythmic joint kinematics as observed in coordinated antennal movements of walking stick insects. Moreover, it successfully produced tactile exploration behaviour on a three-dimensional skeletal model of the insect antennal system with physically realistic parameters. The effect of proprioceptor ablations could be simulated by changing the amplitude and offset parameters of the joint oscillators, only. As in the animal, the movement of both antennal joints was coupled with a stable phase difference, despite the quasi-rhythmicity of the joint angle time courses. We found that the phase-lead of the distal scape-pedicel joint relative to the proximal head-scape joint was essential for producing the natural tactile exploration behaviour and, thus, for tactile efficiency. For realistic movement patterns, the phase-lead could vary within a limited range of 10 to 30 degrees only. Tests with artificial movement patterns strongly suggest that this phase sensitivity is not a matter of the frequency composition of the natural movement pattern. Based on our modelling results, we propose that a constant phase difference is coded into the CPG of the antennal motor system and that proprioceptors are acting locally to regulate the joint movement amplitude

Nucleotide Sequence and Secondary Structure Variations in ITS2-rDNA Region of the Members of Anopheles culicifacies (Diptera: Culicidae) Species Complex

Anopheles culicifacies, major vector of malaria in Sri Lanka is a five member species complex. Differences of the vector competence of siblings, is still poorly delineated. Therefore, the current study was carried out to observe any relationship of the variations in vector competence to ITS2 nucleotide sequences and secondary structure characteristics of the species complex. DNA was extracted from sibling species B and E, the ITS2 region was amplified and sequenced. Sequences for A, C and D siblings were retrieved from NCBI GenBank. The complex divided into two groups, AD and BCE based on primary and secondary structure of the ITS2 sequences. Secondary structures of all species had three helices where pyrimidine-pyrimidine mismatch in Helix II and a UUUGG motif at 5‘ of Helix III were displayed only for B, C and E. Among five types of loops, interior and exterior loops were more conserved than other loop types. Results showed the major vector sibling E and poor or non vector sibling B shares identical nucleotide sequence and secondary structure. Therefore, ITS2 secondary structure is independent of the vector competence of the sibling species

Release of Small RNA-containing Exosome-like Vesicles from the Human Filarial Parasite Brugia malayi

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a socio-economically devastating mosquito-borne Neglected Tropical Disease caused by parasitic filarial nematodes. The interaction between the parasite and host, both mosquito and human, during infection, development and persistence is dynamic and delicately balanced. Manipulation of this interface to the detriment of the parasite is a promising potential avenue to develop disease therapies but is prevented by our very limited understanding of the host-parasite relationship. Exosomes are bioactive small vesicles (30–120 nm) secreted by a wide range of cell types and involved in a wide range of physiological processes. Here, we report the identification and partial characterization of exosome-like vesicles (ELVs) released from the infective L3 stage of the human filarial parasite Brugia malayi. Exosome-like vesicles were isolated from parasites in culture media and electron microscopy and nanoparticle tracking analysis were used to confirm that vesicles produced by juvenile B. malayi are exosome-like based on size and morphology. We show that loss of parasite viability correlates with a time-dependent decay in vesicle size specificity and rate of release. The protein cargo of these vesicles is shown to include common exosomal protein markers and putative effector proteins. These Brugia-derived vesicles contain small RNA species that include microRNAs with host homology, suggesting a potential role in host manipulation. Confocal microscopy shows J774A.1, a murine macrophage cell line, internalize purified ELVs, and we demonstrate that these ELVs effectively stimulate a classically activated macrophage phenotype in J774A.1. To our knowledge, this is the first report of exosome-like vesicle release by a human parasitic nematode and our data suggest a novel mechanism by which human parasitic nematodes may actively direct the host responses to infection. Further interrogation of the makeup and function of these bioactive vesicles could seed new therapeutic strategies and unearth stage-specific diagnostic biomarkers

A Validation of Observed Meteotsunami in the West Coast of Sri Lanka with European Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Modelled Data

Metetsunamis are local regional events originating from perturbation of water levels by the impulse of particularly pressure drop in a disturbed atmospheric weather system and amplified to a destructive Tsunami wave with the combined effect of resonance. For the preliminary investigation a Meteotsunami event was analysed for one minute’s frequency data collected in situ sea level measuring station established in Colombo, Sri Lanka under the authority of National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) with the supervision of Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC). The contribution of disturbed weather system was analysed using wind speed (ms-1), atmospheric pressure (hPa) 10 min frequent reading from the Meteorological Department of Sri Lanka and weather station established under the bilateral project of University of Notre dame and NARA. The observed Meteotsunami event was validated using gridded modelled data (12.5 km resolution) obtained from the European Centre of Medium Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) and analysed using 6 hourly frequent atmospheric pressure (hPa) data, U and V at wind data at 10 m height and significant wave height. For the identification of Meteotsunami events, observed tide gauge readings were analysed in few different steps. The tidal constituents were quantified using harmonic analysis to obtained astronomical effect removed sea level variation and filtered to isolate Meteotsunami events using math lab software.According to the in situ observation data the atmospheric pressure gradient was recorded as 1008-1001 milibar hours while the modelled value dropped from 1009 to 1002 milibar hours. The observed wind speed was increased from 14.21 to 31.90 mph within 4 hours of time period and ECMWF wind speed increased from 11.02 to 19.94 mph with positive deviation. The observed wave height of Metiotsunami event was >0.3 m while model derived wave height was 0.6 m during the low tide period of the day. According to the threshold criterion suggested by Monserrat for classifying Meteotsunami, resulted wave amplitude of observation data exceeded 4 x σ, where σ is standard deviation of astronomical effect removed residual sea level time series. Further studies are required for the investigation of propagation mechanism with amplifying through the bays with the resonance effects. Further high frequency data are insufficient for the investigation of correlation with synoptic scale meteorological event.The ECMWF model is highly recommended for the prediction of disturbed atmospheric system and related ocean based extreme event forecast for prevention of ocean, atmospheric hazards and mitigation of vulnerability with the effect of global change giving real value of lives in the earth.Keywords: Sea level, Meteotsunami, Tsunami, Atmospheric, Resonanc