ON SITE EFFECTS OF SOIL EROSION IN TEA LANDS IN KANDY DISTRICT . AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT·

Soil erosion is a serious problem in many parts of Sri Lanka. It has numerous impacts oncrop productivity. economic growth, income distribution. food production etc. Tea lands inKandy district are highly susceptible to soil erosion due to several factors such as sloppynature. unstable soils. high rainfall and improper land uses. This study focused 011 aneconomic assessment of on site effects of soil erosion in tea lands in Kandy district andbased on secondary data on soil erosion. On site damage due to soil erosion was assessedusing Replacement Cost Approach.This study considered three categories of vegetatively propagated lea (VPTI, VPT2. VPT3).and another three categories of seedling tea (ST I. ST2. ST3) to assess on site damage dueto tea cultivation. According to the assessment on site damage due to lea cultivation inKandy district is Rs. 156X.1million (1.56X I Rs. Billion). Per hectare replacement costs forVPTI. VPT2. VPT3 are Rs. 1010.21016.45654 while for STI. ST2. ST3 are 7030.14322. 12X747 respectively.Net Present Value (NPV) criterion 'was used to examine the economic feasibility of soilconservation measures viz : stone walls. contour and leader drains. and biologicalconservation (SALT) by considering 10 percent discount rate and 5 years planning period.This study reveals that intcrnalisation or on site cost of soil erosion is acceptable if propersoil conservation methods were used under private accounting of conservationprogrammes.

Gravitational waves from Sco X-1: A comparison of search methods and prospects for detection with advanced detectors

The low-mass X-ray binary Scorpius X-1 (Sco X-1) is potentially the most luminous source of continuous gravitational-wave radiation for interferometers such as LIGO and Virgo. For low-mass X-ray binaries this radiation would be sustained by active accretion of matter from its binary companion. With the Advanced Detector Era fast approaching, work is underway to develop an array of robust tools for maximizing the science and detection potential of Sco X-1. We describe the plans and progress of a project designed to compare the numerous independent search algorithms currently available. We employ a mock-data challenge in which the search pipelines are tested for their relative proficiencies in parameter estimation, computational efficiency, robust- ness, and most importantly, search sensitivity. The mock-data challenge data contains an ensemble of 50 Scorpius X-1 (Sco X-1) type signals, simulated within a frequency band of 50-1500 Hz. Simulated detector noise was generated assuming the expected best strain sensitivity of Advanced LIGO and Advanced VIRGO ($4 \times 10^{-24}$ Hz$^{-1/2}$). A distribution of signal amplitudes was then chosen so as to allow a useful comparison of search methodologies. A factor of 2 in strain separates the quietest detected signal, at $6.8 \times 10^{-26}$ strain, from the torque-balance limit at a spin frequency of 300 Hz, although this limit could range from $1.2 \times 10^{-25}$ (25 Hz) to $2.2 \times 10^{-26}$ (750 Hz) depending on the unknown frequency of Sco X-1. With future improvements to the search algorithms and using advanced detector data, our expectations for probing below the theoretical torque-balance strain limit are optimistic.Comment: 33 pages, 11 figure

Novel member of Ras family proteins from Disk Abalone (Haliotis discus discus): Structural profiling and its transcriptional modulation under host pathologic conditions

Among small GTPases, the Ras family proteins capture a remarkable place in dictating cellular proliferation, differentiation and survival in development of an organism. Major members of the Ras family include Ras (H-Ras, K-Ras, N-Ras), Rap1, and Rap2, all of which can act as oncogenes upon mutation. In the present study, a novel Ras family protein (AbRFP) was characterized from Disk Abalone (Haliotis discus discus), an economically important, edible marine gastropod; further analyzing its transcriptional profile in healthy and immune-challenged animals. The full-length cDNA of AbRFP is 2704 bp and it consists of an open reading frame of 552 bp, encoding a 184 amino acid peptide with a calculated molecular mass of ~21 kDa and isoelectric point of 8.63. The amino acid sequence resembles the characteristic features of typical Ras family proteins, including GTP/Mg2+ binding sites and guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) interaction sites, as predicted by the NCBI-conserved domain database server. Phylogenetic study of AbRFP showed the generally accepted relationships, with AbRFP exhibiting highest proximity to a Ras protein from Portuguese oyster. Quantitative real-time PCR detected ubiquitous AbRFP mRNA expression, with strongest levels in muscle along with mantle and the lowest level in hepatopancreas. The AbRFP transcriptional profile in gills of Abalone challenged with Vibrio parahaemolyticus or viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) demonstrated significant up-regulations (p < 0.05) at 12 h and 24 h post-injection (p.i.), respectively. Moreover, significant elevation (p < 0.05) of mRNA expression was detected in hemocytes at 72 h p.i. with V. parahaemolyticus. These findings suggest that AbRFP may play a role under pathological conditions in Disk Abalon

Use of a rapid diagnostic test to detect cutaneous leishmaniasis in Sri Lanka

Objectives: This study was initiated to determine the sensitivity and specificity of a commercially available rapid diagnostic test (RDT) to detect leishmania antigen in cutaneous leishmaniasis(CL) skin lesions among Sri Lankan patients compared to PCR and Slit skin smear(SSS).Methods: Patients clinically suggestive of CL lesions were subjected to parasitological investigations. The clinical history was collected by the researcher. Samples were collected by a qualified trained medical officer from the suspected CL lesions at the dermatology clinic in the Hambantota hospital and from the patients coming to the Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. RDT was done at the Hambantota hospital and samples were brought to the Department of Parasitology, to perform SSS, PCR and cultures.Results: Fifty samples have been collected thus far and PCR was performed only in 48 samples. Out of the 50 samples only 9 were positive by RDT and 32 by SSS and PCR. The 9 samples that were positive for RDT were positive by SSS and 7 positive by PCR. Of the 41 samples that were negative by RDT, 16 were negative by PCR as well as SSS.Conclusions: From the data collected it can concluded that RDT is not the best method to diagnose CL skin lesions in patients in Sri Lanka. Also it confirms that the best method to diagnose leishmaniasis is PCR

Natural Variation in Arabidopsis thaliana as a Tool for Highlighting Differential Drought Responses

To test whether natural variation in Arabidopsis could be used to dissect out the genetic basis of responses to drought stress, we characterised a number of accessions. Most of the accessions belong to a core collection that was shown to maximise the genetic diversity captured for a given number of individual accessions in Arabidopsis thaliana. We measured total leaf area (TLA), Electrolyte Leakage (EL), Relative Water Content (RWC), and Cut Rosette Water Loss (CRWL) in control and mild water deficit conditions. A Principal Component Analysis revealed which traits explain most of the variation and showed that some accessions behave differently compared to the others in drought conditions, these included Ita-0, Cvi-0 and Shahdara. This study relied on genetic variation found naturally within the species, in which populations are assumed to be adapted to their environment. Overall, Arabidopsis thaliana showed interesting phenotypic variations in response to mild water deficit that can be exploited to identify genes and alleles important for this complex trait

Search for post-merger gravitational waves from the remnant of the binary neutron star merger GW170817

In Advanced LIGO, detection and astrophysical source parameter estimation of the binary black hole merger GW150914 requires a calibrated estimate of the gravitational-wave strain sensed by the detectors. Producing an estimate from each detector's differential arm length control loop readout signals requires applying time domain filters, which are designed from a frequency domain model of the detector's gravitational-wave response. The gravitational-wave response model is determined by the detector's opto-mechanical response and the properties of its feedback control system. The measurements used to validate the model and characterize its uncertainty are derived primarily from a dedicated photon radiation pressure actuator, with cross-checks provided by optical and radio frequency references. We describe how the gravitational-wave readout signal is calibrated into equivalent gravitational-wave-induced strain and how the statistical uncertainties and systematic errors are assessed. Detector data collected over 38 calendar days, from September 12 to October 20, 2015, contain the event GW150914 and approximately 16 of coincident data used to estimate the event false alarm probability. The calibration uncertainty is less than 10% in magnitude and 10 degrees in phase across the relevant frequency band 20 Hz to 1 kHz

Methods and results of a search for gravitational waves associated with gamma-ray bursts using the GEO 600, LIGO, and Virgo detectors

Paper producido por "The LIGO Scientific Collaboration and the Virgo Collaboration". (En el registro se mencionan solo algunos autores de las decenas de personas que participan).In this paper we report on a search for short-duration gravitational wave bursts in the frequency range 64 Hz–1792 Hz associated with gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), using data from GEO 600 and one of the LIGO or Virgo detectors. We introduce the method of a linear search grid to analyze GRB events with large sky localization uncertainties, for example the localizations provided by the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). Coherent searches for gravitational waves (GWs) can be computationally intensive when the GRB sky position is not well localized, due to the corrections required for the difference in arrival time between detectors. Using a linear search grid we are able to reduce the computational cost of the analysis by a factor of Oð10Þfor GBM events. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our analysis pipeline can improve upon the sky localization of GRBs detected by the GBM, if a high-frequency GW signal is observed in coincidence. We use the method of the linear grid in a search for GWs associated with 129 GRBs observed satellite-based gamma-ray experiments between 2006 and 2011. The GRBs in our sample had not been previously analyzed for GW counterparts. A fraction of our GRB events are analyzed using data from GEO 600 while the detector was using squeezed-light states to improve its sensitivity; this is the first search for GWs using data from a squeezed-light interferometric observatory. We find no evidence for GW signals, either with any individual GRB in this sample or with the population as a whole. For each GRB we place lower bounds on the distance to the progenitor, under an assumption of a fixed GWemission energy of 10−2M⊙c2, with a median exclusion distance of 0.8 Mpc for emission at 500 Hz and 0.3 Mpc at 1 kHz. The reduced computational cost associated with a linear search grid will enable rapid searches for GWs associated with Fermi GBM events once the advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors begin operation.http://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.89.122004publishedVersionFil: Aasi, J. LIGO. California Institute of Technology; Estados Unidos de América.Fil: Domínguez, E. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Fil: Maglione, C. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Fil: Reula, O. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Fil: Ortega, W. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Fil: Wolovick, N. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Fil: Schilman, M. Argentinian Gravitational Wave Group; Argentina.Física de Partículas y Campo