Use of inorganic fertiliser in place of poultry manure for rehabilitation of gold and bauxite ore refining residues

Ore refining residues are difficult substrates for revegetation because they often contain extremely low plant available levels of one or more essential elements (Hossner and Hons 1992). Organic amendments would generally be attractive additions for revegetation because residues also contain little organic matter, and organic amendments may also ameliorate elevated concentrations of salts and other elements. However organic materials are generally not available on mine sites in sufficient quantities and they are bulky handle. In the present study, the opportunities for substituting inorganic fertilisers in place of poultry manure were investigated for revegetation of three alkaline, variably saline residues: bauxite residue (mixed sand and clay fractions), bauxite residue sand, and gold refining residue from mined oxide clays

Landscape Based Mitigation Design for Addressing the Human Elephant Conflict in Katupotha Area in Puttalam District

The connection between Human elephant conflict (HEC) is quite old in Sri Lanka. Elephants and peoplehave some similar ecological needs therefore, conflict between the two species is unavoidable when theycoexist in the same area. Katupotha is one of the villages that has HEC in Sri Lanka belonging to thePuttalam district and located 29.2 and 4 kilometers away from the Anamaduwa and Pallama respectively.Mainly, elephants enter the village through a place in Rathambala stream where there is less depth andwidth. According to the villagers, elephants are coming there in every year during the month of August,when the rain is very low. Therefore, the landscape solution was designed mainly to fulfill the elephants’water and food requirements. To avoid the entering of elephants to the village, the landscape of theRathambala oya area was changed by creating water features, fruiting areas, and bio fences

Identification of a lipolytic <em>Trichoderma</em> sp. and characterization of its extracellular lipase

Lipases are abundantly used in a wide range of industries. Currently, microbial lipases are the most popular source of industrial lipases, of which fungal lipases stand out due to their low cost of production, catalytic activity, and extracellular nature. The demand for lipases has kept researchers exploring new lipolytic fungi. However, the success of such studies lies in the optimization of the growth medium to maximize lipase secretion and the characterization of the enzyme to achieve its highest activity. Therefore, this research was undertaken to identify a lipolytic fungus that was isolated from soil, optimize its lipase secretion, and characterize it. Based on the results of the current study, the lipolytic fungus was identified as Trichoderma longibrachiatum. Its lipase secretion was maximal when it was cultured in a medium containing olive oil and ammonium sulfate as carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively, at a pH of 7.0. Further, the Trichoderma lipase showed its highest activity at a pH of 6.0 and 40 °C. Moreover, preincubation of the lipase with Ca2+ increased its activity. The enzyme characterization revealed that the extracted Trichoderma lipase has industrially desirable properties. The research results showed that the lipolytic Trichoderma longibrachiatum could be focused on industrial applications

Arterial versus venous lactate: a measure of sepsis in children.

This study assessed the agreement between arterial and venous blood lactate and pH levels in children with sepsis. This retrospective, three-year study involved 60 PICU patients, with data collected from electronic or paper patient records. The inclusion criteria comprised of children (≤17 years old) with sepsis and those who had a venous blood gas taken first with an arterial blood gas taken after within one hour. The lactate and pH values measured through each method were analysed. There is close agreement between venous and arterial lactate up to 2 mmol/L. As this value increases, this agreement becomes poor. The limits of agreement (LOA) are too large (±1.90 mmol/L) to allow venous and arterial lactate to be used interchangeably. The mean difference and LOA between both methods would be much smaller if derived using lactate values under 2.0 mmol/L. There is close agreement between arterial and venous pH (MD = -0.056, LOA ± 0.121). However, due to extreme variations in pH readings during sepsis, pH alone is an inadequate marker. CONCLUSION: A venous lactate ≤2 mmol/L can be used as a surrogate for arterial lactate during early management of sepsis in children. However, if the value exceeds 2 mmol/L, an arterial sample must confirm the venous result. What is known: • In children with septic shock, a blood gas is an important test to show the presence of acidosis and high lactic acid. Hyperlactataemia on admission is an early predictor of outcome and is associated with a greater mortality risk. • An arterial sample is the standard for lactate measurement, however getting a sample may be challenging in the emergency department or a general paediatric ward. Venous samples are quicker and easier to obtain. Adult studies generally advise caution in replacing venous lactate values for the arterial standard, whilst paediatric studies are limited in this area. What is new: • This is the first study assessing the agreement between arterial and peripheral venous lactate in children with sepsis, with a significant sample of patients. • This study shows that a venous sample with a lactate of ≤ 2 mmol/L can be used as a surrogate measurement for arterial lactate during early management of sepsis in children. However, if the venous lactate is above 2 mmol/L, an arterial sample must be taken to confirm the result

Codevelopment of COVID-19 infection prevention and control guidelines in lower-middle-income countries: the 'SPRINT' principles

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has required the rapid development of comprehensive guidelines to direct health service organisation and delivery. However, most guidelines are based on resources found in high-income settings, with fewer examples that can be implemented in resource-constrained settings. This study describes the process of adapting and developing role-specific guidelines for comprehensive COVID-19 infection prevention and control in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods We used a collaborative autoethnographic approach to explore the process of developing COVID-19 guidelines. In this approach, multiple researchers contributed their reflections, conducted joint analysis through dialogue, reflection and with consideration of experiential knowledge and multidisciplinary perspectives to identify and synthesise enablers, challenges and key lessons learnt. Results We describe the guideline development process in the Philippines and the adaptation process in Sri Lanka. We offer key enablers identified through this work, including flexible leadership that aimed to empower the team to bring their expertise to the process; shared responsibility through equitable ownership; an interdisciplinary team; and collaboration with local experts. We then elaborate on challenges including interpreting other guidelines to the country context; tensions between the ideal compared with the feasible and user-friendly; adapting and updating with evolving information; and coping with pandemic-related challenges. Based on key lessons learnt, we synthesise a novel set of principles for developing guidelines during a public health emergency. The SPRINT principles are grounded in situational awareness, prioritisation and balance, which are responsive to change, created by an interdisciplinary team navigating shared responsibility and transparency. Conclusions Guideline development during a pandemic requires a robust and time sensitive paradigm. We summarise the learning in the ‘SPRINT principles’ for adapting guidelines in an epidemic context in LMICs. We emphasise that these principles must be grounded in a collaborative or codesign process and add value to existing national responses

Utility of WIfI foot assessment tool in a Sri Lankan setting; an initial experience

Introduction: Potential for limb salvage and wound healing in a lower limb ulcer depends on degreeof ischemia, wound grade and superadded foot infection.Objectives: Our objective was to assess the feasibility of applying WIfI classification system to stratifypatients presenting with limb ulceration according to risk of undergoing amputation and benefit ofrevascularization.Methods: Fifty four consecutive patients with ulcerated limbs presenting over two months to theUniversity unit at the National Hospital were staged according to the Society for Vascular Surgery(SVS)Wound, Ischemia, and Foot Infection (WIfI) classification system.Results: The median age was 64 (39-93), and 42 (79%) patients were males. Diabetes (87%),hypertension (53%), ischemic heart disease (14%), cerebrovascular disease (13%), chronic renal disease(13%) were identified risk factors. Smoking was reported among 35%. Median Anterior TibialArtery(ATA), Posterior Tibial Artery(PTA), Toe pressures, Ankle Brachial Index, Pole test values ofthe affected side lower limbs were 114.5mmHg, 107.5mmHg, 41mmHg, 0.87 and 85cm respectively.Values for the contralateral limb were 140mmHg, 120mmHg, 74mmHg, 1.0 and 85cm respectively.84% of ATA and 90 % of PTA pulses were not palpable on the affected side. Grades of ischemia were;none (23.3%), mild (27.9%), moderate (18.6%), severe (30.2%), grades of infection were none (20.9%),mild (37.2%), moderate (39.5%), severe (2.3%), and wound grades were 0(0%), 1(20%.9), 2(39.5%),3(39.5%). Estimated risk of amputation were high (65.1%), moderate (11.6%), low (11.6%), very low(11.6%) and estimated benefit of revascularization were high (46.5%) moderate (23.3%), low (7.0%),very low (23.3%).Conclusions: Application of WIfI system was useful to prioritize patients with eminent limb loss forurgent intervention. Toe pressure assessment for diabetic foot ulcer stratification should become acommon practice

Expectations versus reality in chronic venous ulceration; a quality of life assessment study

Introduction: Chronic venous ulceration is a common problem worldwide with a significant effect onQuality of Life (QoL).Objectives: Our objective was to assess Sri Lankan patients’ perspective with regard to this scenario.Methods: We involved 141 consenting patients presenting to the OPD, National Hospital with a venousulcer lasting one month or more. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire, aclinical interview and a lower limb duplex scan. Short form 36 questionnaire was used for QoLassessment.Results: The majority were elderly (median age 53 years) men (n=9[69.5%]). Fifty four (38.3%) wereunemployed at the time of the study and 28 (19.9%) directly attributed the ulcer as the cause forunemployment. Median duration of ulcer was 10[1-360] months and mean Venous Clinical SeverityScore (VCSS) was 13.85(4-24). Family history (44[31.2%]), previous limb trauma or non-venoussurgery (24[17.0%]), smoking among men (57 [58.2%]) and history of pregnancy among females(34[79.1%]) were identified as risk factors. Role limitation due to physical health (28.4[SD 42.8]) androle emotional problems (40.9 [SD 46.7]) had a mean SF 36 score below 50. Factors such as pain,duration of ulcer, older age and higher BMI significantly affected many domains of QoL (p<0.05). Sixtysix (46.8%) patients continue to have ulcers despite having had surgical treatment for varicose veins.Conclusions: Venous ulcers have a considerable impact on the quality of life in Sri Lankan patientswith venous ulcer. The need for providing preventive and rapid healing methods together with socialsupport must be emphasized

Colombo Twin and Singleton Study (CoTASS): A description of a population based twin study of mental disorders in Sri Lanka

Background: The Sri Lankan twin registry is one of the first to be established in a developing country, and its design has ensured sampling from a wide range of environmental conditions. It thus has great potential to examine environmental and genetic influences on diverse phenotypes, including psychiatric disorders, in the context of a diversity of environmental exposures, which may not have been fully explored in previous twin studies in developed countries. This paper presents the rationale for the study, describes its context, and the methods for twin ascertainment and data collection. Methods: A population-based twin register was established in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka using infrastructure designed to periodically update the electoral register. We invited a subsample from this register to participate in the project on common mental disorders, using random ascertainment. A separate non-twin sample was randomly selected from the geographical areas where twins were found. Home interviewers collected diagnostic information on common mental disorders, as well as environmental exposures including life events, socio-economic conditions, and the impact of the civil war and the Tsunami of 2004. Results: We identified 19,302 individuals in the creation of the population based twin register. We randomly selected a subsample, of whom 4,387 were eligible to participate and 4,024 agreed to be interviewed ( including data on 1,954 complete pairs of twins and 5 sets of triplets). Those who refused consent had a similar mean age and sex ratio to those who were interviewed. We invited 2,485 singletons to participate and 2,019 were interviewed. Conclusion: Initial exploration of the data suggests the samples are very representative of the Colombo district of Sri Lanka, so we have created a unique resource for understanding the influences on mental disorders in developing countries, and to compare to the influences found in developed countries

Ubiquitous Expression of CUG or CAG Trinucleotide Repeat RNA Causes Common Morphological Defects in a Drosophila Model of RNA-Mediated Pathology

Expanded DNA repeat sequences are known to cause over 20 diseases, including Huntington’s disease, several types of spinocerebellar ataxia and myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2. A shared genetic basis, and overlapping clinical features for some of these diseases, indicate that common pathways may contribute to pathology. Multiple mechanisms, mediated by both expanded homopolymeric proteins and expanded repeat RNA, have been identified by the use of model systems, that may account for shared pathology. The use of such animal models enables identification of distinct pathways and their ‘molecular hallmarks’ that can be used to determine the contribution of each pathway in human pathology. Here we characterise a tergite disruption phenotype in adult flies, caused by ubiquitous expression of either untranslated CUG or CAG expanded repeat RNA. Using the tergite phenotype as a quantitative trait we define a new genetic system in which to examine ‘hairpin’ repeat RNA-mediated cellular perturbation. Further experiments use this system to examine whether pathways involving Muscleblind sequestration or Dicer processing, which have been shown to mediate repeat RNA-mediated pathology in other model systems, contribute to cellular perturbation in this model