SRI LANKAN STOCK MARKET VOLATILITY ANALYSIS: AN ARMA- GARCH APPROACH

Beyond its role in capital generation, a stock market is emulated as a facet in economic development indication. Sri Lankan stock market, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is a languidly developing market known for instability and periodical fluctuations increasing the volatility risk for the investors. Toward market development, it is imperative in attracting and retaining long term investors. Thus, the study aimed to identify the dynamics of the CSE through volatility estimation of the Sri Lankan stock market during a high volatile period. Further, the use of ARMA-GARCH models aims to contribute to the local empirical studies on the applicability of ARMA-GARCH models in the Sri Lankan context. The study used the daily closing prices of the All-Share-Price Index (ASPI) from January 2018 to December 2022 in log return volatility. Owing to the non-normality and serial dependence conditions inherent in the data, the study developed an ARMA (2,2) mean equation and separate volatility equation applying symmetric models of GARCH, and TGARCH and asymmetric GARCH models of EGARCH, and GJR-GARCH. The study findings identified that asymmetric GARCH models are more reliable in volatility estimation and forecasting. Further, ASPI indicated a leverage effect where negative information caused idiosyncratic volatility. Keywords: ARMA-GARCH, GARCH, Leverage Effect, Stock Markets, Volatility &nbsp

6D Assembly Pose Estimation by Point Cloud Registration for Robot Manipulation

The demands on robotic manipulation skills to perform challenging tasks have drastically increased in recent times. To perform these tasks with dexterity, robots require perception tools to understand the scene and extract useful information that transforms to robot control inputs. To this end, recent research has introduced various object pose estimation and grasp pose detection methods that yield precise results. Assembly pose estimation is a secondary yet highly desirable skill in robotic assembling as it requires more detailed information on object placement as compared to bin picking and pick-and-place tasks. However, it has been often overlooked in research due to the complexity of integration in an agile framework. To address this issue, we propose an assembly pose estimation method with RGB-D input and 3D CAD models of the associated objects. The framework consists of semantic segmentation of the scene and registering point clouds of local surfaces against target point clouds derived from CAD models to estimate 6D poses. We show that our method can deliver sufficient accuracy for assembling object assemblies using evaluation metrics and demonstrations. The source code and dataset for the work can be found at: https://github.com/KulunuOS/6DAPoseComment: 8 page

Prediction of plasma leakage phase of dengue in resource limited settings

Introduction: The pathophysiology of severe dengue is related to increased capillary permeability and plasma leakage into extracellular space. A simple, low cost risk prediction tool for plasma leakage will be useful for clinicians practicing in rural areas without imaging facilities. Study design: A prospective observational study was carried out over 12 months at the National Hospital, Sri Lanka enrolling patients with confirmed diagnosis (via NS1 antigen testing) of early dengue infection. Clinical features on admission and investigation results on D3, D5 and D7 of the illness were recorded. Evidence of plasma leakage was confirmed by ultrasonography. Results: A total of 179 patients met the inclusion criteria (males; 91, 50.8%, mean age: 31.6 years, SD ± 14.7). Sixty seven patients (67/173, 38.7%) had ultrasonographic evidence of plasma leakage. Several clinical features (severe vomiting, severe diarrhoea, abdominal pain and liver tenderness) as well as mean differences of some investigations were significantly associated with progression to plasma leakage. However, only liver tenderness on day 3 emerged as independent significant predictors of critical phase in the adjusted analysis (specificity: 93%, sensitivity: 44%). Conclusions: Having liver tenderness by day 3 of the illness is helpful to identify a subgroup of patients at risk of plasma leakage

BUTTERFLIES AND VERTEBRATE FAUNAL DIVERSITY OF THE AMBULUWAWA BIO·DIVERSITY COMPLEX

The Ambuluwawa Biodiversity Complex (ABC) was created recently on theAmbuluwawa Hill (elevation: 1071 meters) situated close to the Gampola Town, KandyDistrict. Its habitats include: lowland rainforest patches, grasslands with exposed rocks,a Pinus plantation, newly designed gardens, and several artificial pondsThe present study was carried out in this forest from 23rd January to 20th February of2003, with the objective of surveying the area's faunal diversity. The 'long transectmethod' was applied for faunal observations (both direct and indirect) along nature trailsin the forest patches and the planted forest, whereas random traversing was done in thegrassland. The observations were made once a week both in day and night times duringthe study period. The breadth of the long transect was restricted by the visibilitydetermined by the daylight and night lamps. Binoculars were used to observe birds. Inthe study of herpetofauna, hand nets were used and the animals were released afteridentification. No ichthyofauna could be observed other than the introduced fish found inthe artificial ponds.The results suggest the presence of the following altogether: 11mamalian species,including 01 endemic (within nine families),59 avian species including 07 endemic species (within 31 families),30 reptilian species including 13 endemic species (within eight families),13 amphibian species including 06 endemic species (within three families) and13 butterfly species including 02 endemic ones (within six families).The total number is 126 speciesOut of the above, 29 endemic species, 28 are nationally threatened. Moreover, there arealso two nationally threatened no-endemic species.It appears that since, the recent development of the Bio Diversity Complex the faunathere is highly threatened due to the construction activities such as rock blasting,deforestation and road development etc. Furthermore, the presence of visitors also has anegative effect on the fauna

HERPETO·FAU'NAL SURVEVOFTHE DEENSTON·NAVANAGALA NATURE TRAIL, THE KNUCKLES RANGE

A survey of amphibians and reptiles was carried out along the "Deenston-NavanagalaNature Trail" on the eastern slopes of the Knuckles Range (elevation: 915-1906 m)during the June-Oct period of 2003. The objective was to identify the amphibians andreptiles species in their micro-habitats of the studies area. The survey is important as SriLanka is an amphibian biodiversity hot spotThe survey was done both during day and night using the 'long transect method'. 'Visiblerange' (weather-dependent) determined the transect width. The species were caught foridentification (using hand nets) and released.12 amphibian species were recorded within three families. There were six endemic - allnationally threatened-including one in the endemic genus Lankanectus . Theirdistribution in the micro-habitat is:Litter: 2 spp.• Puddles: 2 spp.• Stream banks: 3 spp.• Tree holes: I sp.• Trunks: 2 spp,Litter and bushes: I sp., Litter and underneath logs: 1 sp.As for the reptiles the number of tetrapod species is 12 within three families. Out of 8endemic spceis 6 are nationally threatened.There were 17 serpentoid species within 4 families. Six are endemic and nationallythreatened. Their micro-habitat break down is:Tetrapod reptiles:Litter: 2 spp.. Trunks: 1 spp.Cardamom & trunks I sp.• Litter & beneath rocks 1 sp.. Trunk & beneath rocks I sp.•Trunk and Bushes 2 sp., Trunk and Rocks 2 sp.Serpentoid reptiles:Grasslands: 4 spp.• Litter: 5 spp., Log cavities; I sp., Puddles: 1 sp.,Sub persorial : 1 sp.• Tree holes: 1 sp.Grass and litter: I sp. Trunks.and bushes: 3 spp

A STUDY ON THE BUTTERFLY FAUNAL DIVERSITY IN VARIOUS FOREST HABITATS IN THE KNUCKLES FOREST RANGE

A butterfly faunal survey was conducted in the Deenston-Nawanagala Nature Trail areaon the eastern flank of the Knuckles Forest Range at a 915-1906m of elevation with theobjective of studying the butterfly faunal of the area in different habitat types.A field survey was carried out one day per month during August 2002 to August 2003period. Data collection was done using the 'long-transect method' containing thetransect width to the 'visible range' that varied according to the atmospheric conditionsThe following five major habitat types (Listed in the descending order of extent) wereidentified: Abandoned Tea Lands with Lime Grass, Lowland Semi-evergreen Forest, SubMontane Forest, Montane Forest and Abandoned Cardamom AreasThe total number of species recorded was 40 in seven familiesThis habitat distribution is as follows: Abandoned Tea Lands with Lime Grass: 27 spp.,Lowland Semi-evergreen Forest; 28, Sub Montane Forest; 18, Montane Forest; 9,Abandoned Cardamom Areas;13.Their distribution in the families is; Nymphalidae 12 spp., Papilionidae 8, Pieridae 6,Satyridae 6, Danaidae 5, Lycaenidae 2 and Riodinidae 1. Only the Family Nymphalidaeis found in all habitat types.Three of these species are endemic and altogether five species (Including the threeendemics) are nationally threatened.In the study area the butterfly fauna facing threats due to human and natural causes. Manmade fires occur in grasslands where 27 species (54%) are found. Cardamom cultivationis another factor. Strong winds in some seasons and forest dieback (especially inNawangala) are natural causes. The need for conserving this butterfly fauna ishighlighted in this paper

Nanoflow-nanospray mass spectrometry metabolomics reveals disruption of the urinary metabolite profiles of HIV-positive patients on combination antiretroviral therapy

Background: The use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has substantially improved the outlook for patients with HIV infection. However, lifelong exposure to cART is also associated with adverse metabolic changes and an enhanced risk of renal, hepatic and cardiovascular dysfunction. This study investigated disruptions of the urinary metabolome of cART-exposed patients, thereby furthering our understanding of some of the side effects of pharmaceutical intervention. Methods: HIV-positive patients were recruited from an HIV clinic and divided into cART-naive and cART-exposed groups. HIV-negative patients were recruited from a sexual health clinic. All 89 subjects were white males. Targeted biochemistry analyses were performed on plasma samples. Urine samples were collected following an overnight fast and analysed with a highly sensitive untargeted metabolomic method using nanoflow/nanospray liquid chromatography-time of flight mass spectrometry. Datasets were analysed using projection modelling to detect metabolite markers of cART exposure. Results: Metabolites or parent compounds of all cART drugs were detected in urine extracts of all but one of the cART-exposed patients confirming adherence to the pharmaceutical regimen. Analysis of urine samples from patients on cART revealed significant reductions in selected bile acids, lipid, nucleoside and androgen metabolites. However, plasma concentrations of free or conjugated testosterone were unchanged indicating possible disruption of androgen transport or excretion in urine of patients on cART. Conclusions: Discovery-based metabolomics reveals the potential to identify novel markers of cART intervention and metabolite disruption in HIV-positive patients, which may enable the efficacy, compliance and side effects of these pharmaceutical mixtures to be investigated

Genetic Variants of APOL1 Are Major Determinants of Kidney Failure in People of African Ancestry With HIV

INTRODUCTION: Variants of the APOL1 gene are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in people of African ancestry, although evidence for their impact in people with HIV are sparse. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study investigating the association between APOL1 renal risk alleles and kidney disease in people of African ancestry with HIV in the UK. The primary outcome was end-stage kidney disease (ESKD; estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] of 30 mg/mmol), and biopsy-proven HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between APOL1 high-risk genotypes (G1/G1, G1/G2, G2/G2) and kidney disease outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 2864 participants (mean age 48.1 [SD 10.3], 57.3% female) were genotyped, of whom, 354 (12.4%) had APOL1 high-risk genotypes, and 99 (3.5%) had ESKD. After adjusting for demographic, HIV, and renal risk factors, individuals with APOL1 high-risk genotypes were at increased odds of ESKD (odds ratio [OR] 10.58, 95% CI 6.22–17.99), renal impairment (OR 5.50, 95% CI 3.81–7.95), albuminuria (OR 3.34, 95% CI 2.00–5.56), and HIVAN (OR 30.16, 95% CI 12.48–72.88). An estimated 49% of ESKD was attributable to APOL1 high-risk genotypes. CONCLUSION: APOL1 high-risk genotypes were strongly associated with kidney disease in people of African ancestry with HIV and accounted for approximately half of ESKD cases in this cohort