Investigation of the agricultural resources in Sri Lanka

The author has identified the following significant results. Several in-house capabilities were developed. The facilities to prepare color composites of excellent quality were developed, using bulk B/W 70 mm transparencies or 1:1,000,000 positive transparencies. These color composites were studied through optical devices on light tables. A zoom transfer scope was also added, enabling direct transfer of LANDSAT composite data on to base maps

Estimation of body weight using anthropometric parameters in Sri Lankan hospitalized adult patients

Body weight is an important clinical parameter for accurate dosing of drugs with a narrow therapeutic window, However, it is difficult to measure the body weight of a patient if they cannot stand on a scale. There are several anthropometrics-based equations to estimate the body weight, but most of these are derived from white Caucasian populations and are not validated for South Asians. This study aimed to validate existing anthropometrics-based weight estimation equations and develop a new equation for the same purpose for Sri Lankan adults. This prospective study was conducted at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka over a 6-month period, split into a development and a validation phase. During the development phase, estimated body weight of patients by doctors and nurses and patients themselves were noted and compared against their actual body weight. In addition, 13 anthropometric measurements were taken, which were used to validate 12 anthropometrics-based equations to estimate body weight described in literature previously. Two new gender specific regression models to estimate the body weight in the local population was also derived and validated. A total of 502 (males = 249) and 217 (males = 108) patients were recruited for the development and validation phases respectively. Both doctors and patients had comparable accuracy in predicting body weight (p>0.05). All anthropometric based equations were significantly correlated with actual body weight (correlation coefficients: 0.741–0.869), and the new equations derived from the local data performed similarly to the best performing equation identified from the literature during validation phase. However, even the best of these equations could not outperform patient/physician estimates. When the patient weight cannot be measured, an estimate by the patient or the doctor may be the best substitute

The effect of an infra-acetabular screw for anatomically shaped three-dimensional plate or standard plate designs in acetabulum fractures: a biomechanical analysis

Background Various plate shapes and implant configurations are used for stabilization of acetabulum fractures via anterior approaches. Little is known about the biomechanical stability of a two-dimensionally shaped “conventional” plate (“J-Plate”—JP) in comparison to three-dimensionally shaped plate configurations (3DP). In addition, the augmentary effect of an infra-acetabular lag-screw (IACS) fixation for anterior column and posterior hemi-transverse acetabulum fractures has not been clarified in comparison of JP and 3DP constructs. This study analyzed the difference between the biomechanical stability of JP compared to 3DP and the role of an IACS in a standardized acetabular fracture model in a single-leg stance loading configuration. Methods In an artificial bone substitute pelvis model (Synbone© Malans, Switzerland), a typical and standardized fracture pattern (anterior column and posterior hemi-transverse) was created with osteotomy jigs. After anatomic reduction the stabilization was performed using JP or 3DP. Eight pelvises per group were axially loaded in a single-leg stance model up to 400 N. After the load cycle, an additional infra-acetabular screw was placed and the measurement repeated. Fragment displacement was recorded by an optical tracking system (Optitrack Prime 13®, Corvallis, USA). Results In the pure placement, 3DP provided significantly superior stability when compared to JP. Augmentation of JP by IACS increased the stability significantly, up to the level of 3DP alone, whereas augmentation of the 3DP did not result in further increase of overall stability. Conclusion The anatomically shaped plate alone provides a superior biomechanical stability in fixation of an anterior column and posterior hemi-transverse fracture model. In a JP fixation the augmentation by IACS provides similar strength as the anatomically shaped 3DP. By use of the anatomically shaped 3DP the need of a clinically risky application of IACS might be avoidable

Range Extension and Vocalisation of Endangered Shrub Frog, Pseudophilautus zorro (Amphibia: Rachophoridae) in Sri Lanka

Gannoruwa shrub frog, Pseudophilautus zorro, is an endemic species known only from four locations in and around Kandy, Gannoruwa forest, home gardens in Triverton estate, Hanthana and Udawaththakele forest reserves. Despite their cryptic nature calling males are conspicuous once identified their vocalisation. Hence, we describe their vocalisation and acoustic characters. We recorded P. zorro from Hanthana (80.6141° E, 7.2497° N; 700 m a.s.l.) and measured six common call characters of 92 calls from four males. We identified four call types based on wave form structure and spectrogram. Type 1 calls were the most frequently emitted call type (93% of 518 calls recorded) having the average call duration 5.1±1.2 mili-seconds. Vocalising frequency of the species ranged between 3,100 Hz and 3,600 Hz. During our field excursions in 2014-2017, we heard similar vocalisation in two sites well away from its known range, Katugasthota (80.6199° E, 7.3302° N; 470 m a.s.l) and Ovilikanda (80.5926° E, 7.4538° E; 470 m a.s.l). We confirm the identity as P. zorro using the morphological characters. Again, on 18th September, 2014 we sighted the species during an excursion to Kukulamalpotha (80.7819° E, 7.5527° N; 460 m a.s.l) in Knuckles reserve. Since the site was very far from the known range of P. zorro, we obtained toe tips from two individuals and confirm their identity genetically by having 0% uncorrected pairwise genetic distance for 16S gene fragment (~510 bp). With three new found locations their Extent of Occurrence and Area of Occupancy has been increased by 14 times (from 20 km2 to 291 km2) and by 2 times (from 16 km2 to 28 km2) respectively. New found populations considerably expanded the species-range and the knowledge of their vocalisation can further use to explore new populations. This study confirms that P. zorro is not restricted as previously thought.Keywords: New population, Bioacoustics, Shrub frogs, Extent of occurrenc

Outcomes of stroke patients undergoing thrombolysis in Sri Lanka; an observational prospective study from a low-middle income country

Background: Stroke related deaths are relatively higher in low- and middle-income countries where only a fraction of eligible patients undergo thrombolysis. There is also limited evidence on post-thrombolysis outcomes of patients from Asian countries in these income bands. Methods: This is a single center prospective observational study of a patient cohort with acute ischaemic stroke, undergoing thrombolysis with alteplase (low and standard dose), over a 24-month period in 2019/2020. Modified Rankin scale (mRS) for dependency at 3 months (primary outcome), duration of hospital stay, incidence of symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages and all-cause mortality at 3 months (secondary outcomes) were recorded. Demographic, clinical and treatment related factors associated with these outcomes were explored. Results: Eighty-nine patients (males – 61, 69%, mean age: 60 years ±12.18) were recruited. Time from symptom onset to reperfusion was 174 min ± 56.50. Fifty-one patients were independent according to mRS, 11 (12.4%) patients died, and 11 (12.5%) developed symptomatic intracranial haemorrhages by 3 months. Functional independence at 3 months was independently associated with National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission (p < 0.05). Thrombolysis with low dose alteplase did not lead to better or worse outcomes compared to standard dose. Conclusions: On admission NIHSS is predictive of functional independence at 3 months post-thrombolysis. Low dose alteplase may be as efficacious as standard dose alteplase with associated cost savings, but this needs to be confirmed by a prospective clinical trial for the Sri Lankan population

Airports at Risk: The Impact of Information Sources on Security Decisions

Security decisions in high risk organizations such as airports involve obtaining ongoing and frequent information about potential threats. Utilizing questionnaire survey data from a sample of airport employees in European Airports across the continent, we analyzed how both formal and informal sources of security information affect employee's decisions to comply with the security rules and directives. This led us to trace information network flows to assess its impact on the degree employees making security decisions comply or deviate with the prescribed security rules. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that security information obtained through formal and informal networks differentially determine if employee will comply or not with the rules. Information sources emanating from the informal network tends to encourage employees to be more flexible in their security decisions while formal sources lead to be more rigid with complying with rules and protocols. These results suggest that alongside the formal administrative structure of airports, there exists a diverse and pervasiveness set of informal communications networks that are a potent factor in determining airport security levels

Hydro-Meteorological Disaster Incidents and Associated Weather Systems in Sri Lanka

This paper presents a comprehensive seasonal analysis of disaster incidents with their associated weather systems happened in Sri Lanka since 1907 to 2019. Disaster incidents and weather records were collected from different reliable sources and analysed with the observed weather systems to understand the formation and development of the weather systems. According to the observations, frequent hydro-meteorological hazards experienced by the country are extreme winds, floods, and landslides. The seasonal analysis shows that majority of these hydro-meteorological disasters have occurred during the southwest monsoon, where the weather was mainly dominated by the monsoon winds entering from the southwest of Sri Lanka which creates torrential rainfall mainly in the wet zone of the country. The frequency of formation of depression and deep depression, from 1907 to 2019 shows that most of these are formed in the Bay of Bengal (BoB), North Indian Ocean, from October to January while having the highest frequency in November followed by December. The study will help to understand the possible damages, and thereby help the community to be prepared for such future hazards. The need for a central platform for generating timely impact-based warnings and helping the community to act was also identified. Further, the census block can be suggested as the smallest; Micro-Geographic Incident Response Unit (MG-IRU) to grant the decision-making power and connect the institution and community in the disaster risk management process.</p

AWARENESS OF USAGE OF SUNSCREENS AMONG SCHOOL CHILDREN IN KANDY, SRI LANKA

Objective: The objective of this research was to evaluate the awareness of usage of sunscreens among school children in Kandy, Sri Lanka.Methods: School children (138) who do outdoor sports were recruited from six schools. Knowledge and attitudes towards the usage and application of sunscreens were assessed using a researcher administered questionnaire. Statistical analyses were done using Statistical Package for the Social Science (SPSS version-16).Results: Among the school children who do outdoor sports, 71 (51.4%) of participants used sunscreens and 67 (48.6%) of participants did not use sunscreens.Conclusion: According to the results most of the school children have a lack of knowledge, attitudes and practice towards the usage of sunscreens