Politics and Sanga Community in Sri Lanka

The main objective of this paper is to explore how Buddhism was cruciallyinfluenced on change of the political regimes in the pre and post- independence politicsin Sri Lanka. The trend of the politics in Sri Lankan society is becoming morecomplicity because Buddhism which is the main religion of the majority of the people inSri Lankan society has crucial impact on practice of the general politics. Buddhism isvery strongly called as a spiritual religion which has appeared for the ordinary peopleemancipation from the bad secular social practices and beliefs. Further, since Buddha‟sparinibbana (attain to spiritual world) it has been maintain and sustain by the MahaSanga which are Buddha‟s Dharma school. Therefore, Sanga community, have strongethical and spiritual objectives than secularize desires which base on Buddha‟s originalteaching. Sri Lanka is one of the countries in South Asia which has been practicingBuddhism as a spiritual religion in terms of Theravada Buddhism through their SangaCommunity. Therefore, Maha Sanga has strong spiritual objectives than secularizingtheir day to day social practices which base on original principles of Buddhism. Thereare some evidence in Buddha‟s teaching on Maha Sanga regarding political involvementon statehood or politics, yet rapid trends and evidence have been shown on powerpolitics that religion has crucially influence and effect on politics by Sanga communitythan their spiritual objectives, Why? Many scholars have done researches on Buddhismand Politics in Sri Lanka however this research will try to find out the effects of basicsocial, economic and cultural factors that motivate Sanga community There are manyscholars have done research on Buddhism and politics in Sri Lanka however thisresearch, this research will try to find out the effects of basic social, economic andcultural factors that motivate Sanga community interfering to practical politics in preand post Independence politics in Sri Lanka. Discourse analysis which is one of the poststructural methods of scientific inquiry in social science research, will be applied as amajor research method in this research. Therefore, previous discourses and argumentwill be critically re-interpret and re-produce in this research. Therefor, previous willbenefit researchers who wants to do same research with utilizing discourse analysis.Key words: Spiritual buddhism, Buddhas teaching, Secular practices, Statehood andsang

Promoting Participation of Stakeholders in Community-Based Rehabilitation in Sri Lanka: Process of Action Research in Anuradhapura

This study examines the participation of stakeholders, including disabled people, in disability and community issues in rural areas in Sri Lanka. As a conceptual framework, four dimensions of participation in community-based rehabilitation (CBR) are summarised from previous research. This research was mainly conducted in the model administrative division of the national CBR programme in Anuradhapura district. An action research approach was applied in March 2013, which consisted of eight steps. The study used data from the hearing survey on disabled children under 18 years old (n=103), semi-structured interviews with disabled people (n=20), focus group discussions with participants of community workshops (n=34) and social services officers (n=5) separately, and the authors’ field notes, amongst others. Data were analysed with a qualitative procedure, except for quantitative data. Showing the four dimensions of participation in each step, we found promoting participation of various stakeholders improved disabled people’s living conditions and enhanced their empowerment. The study also revealed elements that were significant in promoting participation through the action research process: key persons, information and network, utilising existing local resources, dialogue in meetings, and multisectional practice. Finally, we discuss the theoretical implications of this research

Risk averse operation of an electricity plant in an electricity market

New methods are required to make optimal operation decisions for electricity generating and consuming plants in market-based electricity industries. Since wholesale electricity is traded on a spot price basis, both generators and consumers face uncertainty in their future income. Operating plants with inter-temporal links are particularly difficult since operation decisions at one instant affect the available operation decisions after that, and hence affect future income. Operation decision making with a risk-averse attitude is a method to handle uncertainty, however, some form of financial instruments, such as forward contracts, are required to allocate risk. Since electricity markets operate on a discrete time basis, a multi-stage decision making method is required to operate an electricity plant with inter-temporal links. Although risk-averse decision making has been used in other contexts, few attempts have been made to use these techniques for multi-stage problems. In this thesis, a new multi-stage risk-averse decision making algorithm is proposed and applied to make operation and forward contract trading decisions for a plant in an electricity market. In the proposed algorithm, risk aversion is incorporated in sequential decision making using the expected utility method with a von Neumann-Morgenstern utility function. Decisions are taken to maximise the utility of total financial income. Since utility functions have a concave shape, the marginal utility of income diminishes with increased income, giving risk aversion. A solution structure similar to dynamic programming is proposed for the risk management algorithm by introducing a state variable to represent past behaviour. The proposed algorithm is applied to make decisions for electricity plant and market models. Simulation results for different plant models show a clear reduction in financial risk when compared with risk-neutral operation. Any reduction in risk is shown to be sensitive to the decision maker s attitude toward risk used in the algorithm. Simulation results suggest that forward contracts play a major role in minimising risk when starting plants with high start up costs. Forward contracts ensure financial security even under unfavourable market conditions. It is shown that, plants employing a risk-averse attitude which do not commit to start, do so after securing their future financial position using forward contracts. In general, the proposed risk management algorithm shows potential for use in electricity markets

The melanoma-associated antigen 1 (MAGEA1) protein stimulates the E3 ubiquitin-ligase activity of TRIM31 within a TRIM31-MAGEA1-NSE4 complex

The MAGE (Melanoma-associated antigen) protein family members are structurally related to each other by a MAGEhomology domain comprised of 2 winged helix motifs WH/A and WH/B. This family specifically evolved in placental mammals although single homologs designated NSE3 (non-SMC element) exist in most eukaryotes. NSE3, together with its partner proteins NSE1 and NSE4 form a tight subcomplex of the structural maintenance of chromosomes SMC5–6 complex. Previously, we showed that interactions of the WH/B motif of the MAGE proteins with their NSE4/EID partners are evolutionarily conserved (including the MAGEA1-NSE4 interaction). In contrast, the interaction of the WH/A motif of NSE3 with NSE1 diverged in the MAGE paralogs. We hypothesized that the MAGE paralogs acquired new RING-finger containing partners through their evolution and form MAGE complexes reminiscent of NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 trimers. In this work, we employed the yeast 2-hybrid system to screen a human RING-finger protein library against several MAGE baits. We identified a number of potential MAGE-RING interactions and confirmed several of them (MDM4, PCGF6, RNF166, TRAF6, TRIM8, TRIM31, TRIM41) in co-immunoprecipitation experiments. Among these MAGE-RING pairs, we chose to examine MAGEA1-TRIM31 in detail and showed that both WH/A and WH/B motifs of MAGEA1 bind to the coiled-coil domain of TRIM31 and that MAGEA1 interaction stimulates TRIM31 ubiquitin-ligase activity. In addition, TRIM31 directly binds to NSE4, suggesting the existence of a TRIM31-MAGEA1-NSE4 complex reminiscent of the NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 trimer. These results suggest that MAGEA1 functions as a co-factor of TRIM31 ubiquitin-ligase and that the TRIM31-MAGEA1-NSE4 complex may have evolved from an ancestral NSE1-NSE3-NSE4 complex

IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF TEA SOILS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA.

The detrimental effects of soil pesticides on soil micro biota and biodiversity of the teaecosystem are poorly understood. In the current study, microbial activity in southern teasoils of Sri Lanka as affected by application of commonly used soil pesticides and certaincultural practices was evaluated by m-:asuring the soil respiration in vitro and in vivo.CO2 evolution rates in Southern tea soils were generally low as compared to soils in otherareas. Herbicide and formalin applications significantly (p=O.005) suppressed thebiological activity of Southern tea soils; the nematicide tested was less effective.Incorporation of compost and tea waste significantly (p=O.005) elevated CO2 evolution ratein tea soils than that of in undisturbed, virgin forest soils. Forking strengthened microbialbiomass through improved soil physical conditions. Soil biomass was positively correlatedwith growth of the test plants viz tea and tomatoSouthern tea soils with low organic matter contents arc exposed to repeated application ofherbicides and negligence of important agronomic practices due to labour shortage. Suchmalpractices could aggravate potential build up of pesticide residues in the soil. Thus,improvement of soil organic matter status by incorporation of various organic amendments,establishment of green manure crops, rehabilitation of old tea soils and more importantly,restricted usage of agro-chemicals etc. is essential. These practices will assure long-termsustainable productivity and quality of soils as well as help degrade accumulated chemicalresidues and elevate densities of soil microbial communities. As a consequence, increasedefficacy of bio control of nematodes and soil borne pathogens and proper administration ofnatural nutrient cycles could be envisaged.

Immune evasion in cancer: mechanistic basis and therapeutic strategies

Cancer immune evasion is a major stumbling block in designing effective anticancer therapeutic strategies. Although considerable progress has been made in understanding how cancers evade destructive immunity, measures to counteract tumor escape have not kept pace. There are a number of factors that contribute to tumor persistence despite having a normal host immune system. Immune editing is one of the key aspects why tumors evade surveillance causing the tumors to lie dormant in patients for years through “equilibrium” and “senescence” before re- emerging. In addition, tumors exploit several immunological processes such as targeting the regulatory T cell function or their secretions, antigen presentation, modifying the production of immune suppressive mediators, tolerance and immune deviation. Besides these, tumor heterogeneity and metastasis also play a critical role in tumor growth. A number of potential targets like promoting Th1, NK cell, γδ T cell responses, inhibiting Treg functionality, induction of IL-12, use of drugs including phytochemicals have been designed to counter tumor progression with much success. Some natural agents and phytochemicals merit further study. For example, use of certain key polysaccharide components from mushrooms and plants have shown possess therapeutic impact on tumor-imposed genetic instability, anti-growth signaling, replicative immortality, deregulated metabolism etc. In this review, we will discuss the advances made towards understanding the basis of cancer immune evasion and summarize the efficacy of various therapeutic measures and targets that have been developed or are being investigated to enhance tumor rejection

Human blood autoantibodies in the detection of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most common malignancy in the western world. Early detection and diagnosis of all cancer types is vital to improved prognosis by enabling early treatment when tumours should be both resectable and curable. Sera from 3 different cohorts; 42 sera (21 CRC and 21 matched controls) from New York, USA, 200 sera from Pittsburgh, USA (100 CRC and 100 controls) and 20 sera from Dundee, UK (10 CRC and 10 controls) were tested against a panel of multiple tumour-associated antigens (TAAs) using an optimised multiplex microarray system. TAA specific IgG responses were interpo- lated against the internal IgG standard curve for each sample. Individual TAA specific responses were examined in each cohort to determine cutoffs for a robust initial scoring method to establish sensitivity and specificity. Sensitivity and specificity of combinations of TAAs provided good discrimination between cancer-positive and normal serum. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the sample sets tested against a panel of 32 TAAs were 61.1% and 80.9% respectively for 6 antigens; p53, AFP, K RAS, Annexin, RAF1 and NY-CO16. Furthermore, the observed sensitivity in Pittsburgh sample set in different clinical stages of CRC;stageI(n=19),stageII(n=40),stageIII(n=34)andstageIV(n=6)wassimilar (73.6%, 75.0%, 73.5% and 83.3%, respectively), with similar levels of sensitivity for right and left sided CRC. We identified an antigen panel of sufficient sensitivity and specificity for early detection of CRC, based upon serum profiling of autoantibody response using a robust multiplex antigen microarray technology. This opens the possibility of a blood test for screening and detection of early colorectal cancer. However this panel will require further validation studies before they can be proposed for clinical practice

Immunoregulatory Mechanisms Underlying Prevention of Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer by Probiotic Bacteria

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Probiotic bacteria produce immunoregulatory metabolites in vitro such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid with potent anticarcinogenic effects. This study aimed to investigate the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the efficacy of probiotic bacteria in mouse models of cancer. Methodology/Principal Findings: The immune modulatory mechanisms of VSL#3 probiotic bacteria and CLA were investigated in mouse models of inflammation-driven colorectal cancer. Colonic specimens were collected for histopathology, gene expression and flow cytometry analyses. Immune cell subsets in the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), spleen and colonic lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) were phenotypically and functionally characterized. Mice treated with CLA or VSL#3 recovered faster from the acute inflammatory phase of disease and had lower disease severity in the chronic, tumor-bearing phase of disease. Adenoma and adenocarcinoma formation was also diminished by both treatments. VSL#3 increased the mRNA expression of TNF-a, angiostatin and PPAR c whereas CLA decreased COX-2 levels. Moreover, VSL#3-treated mice had increased IL-17 expression in MLN CD4+ T cells and accumulation of Treg LPL and memory CD4+ T cells. Conclusions/Significance: Both CLA and VSL#3 suppressed colon carcinogenesis, although VSL#3 showed greater anticarcinogeni