TRANSITING FROM PROLONGED CONFLICT TO POST CONFLICT DEVELOPMENT: LOCATING THE CASE OF TRINCOMALEE DISTRICT OF SRI LANKA

Occasional Papers in Sociology and Anthropology - Peace and Democracy in South Asia, Volume 1, Number 1, January 200

Improved Protein Characterizations using Ionic Liquids: PAGE and MALDI-MS

Protein separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and identification by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) are primary tools of protein analysis. In these techniques, surfactants are used in protein sample preparation in order to enhance the protein solubility. Conventional surfactants have shown limitations in protein analysis due to the structural complexity of proteomes, resulting in low resolution. The research goal of this dissertation is to address some of these limitations by applying novel cationic ionic liquid surfactants (ILS), N-alkyl-4-methyl pyridinium bromide (CnPBr where n=4, 8, 11). The ILS would be suitable candidates to be used in PAGE protein separations as a result of positive cooperative binding to proteins at low concentrations of ILS and protein denaturing ability at room temperature. These compounds were used as buffer additives in ILS-PAGE protein separation and matrix additives in MALDI-MS protein identification. Anionic ILS-PAGE was used to separate a mixture of acidic proteins by applying ILS in sample and running buffers. Protein separation was improved for transferrin and ovalbumin, which were resolved as multiple bands of isoforms. In cationic ILS-PAGE, ILS were applied in polyacrylamide gels in addition to sample and running buffers. Separation of both acidic and basic proteins as sharp bands with high resolution is a major advancement of this technique. Cationic ILS-PAGE was used to resolve ribonuclease b glycoforms as multiple protein bands. In contrast, the same protein was migrated as a single band in Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE. Moreover, alpha antitrypsin glycoforms were resolved as multiple spots by two dimensional (2D) Isoelectric focusing (IEF)/ILS-PAGE. Furthermore, C4PBr and C8PBr ILS were applied as matrix additives with MALDI matrix, α-cyanohydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA), to perform protein sample analysis as well as rat brain tissue profiling. ILS showed high protein signal intensity at low concentrations (0.02% (w/v)) in protein samples compared to SDS, cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and no surfactants present (blank). A large number of new protein peaks were acquired from tissue sample as compared to the absence of ILS in the matrix. These results show the applicability of ILS in improved protein identification by MALDI imaging mass spectrometry

Child Sexual Abuse; a Medico-Legal Analysis

Background: Child sexual abuse is frequently discussed in Sri Lanka. The type of abuse, hymenal injuries and their association with penetrative intercourse are important facts in the management of child sexual abuse.Methods: Out of 7257 Medico-legal examinations, 78 child sexual abuse cases reported to a tertiary care hospital in Colombo, Sri Lanka, from January 2011 to December 2013 were studied.Results: Females 85% and 59% were 11-15 years. Sixty nine percent during day time, 91% by known persons and 64% at outside place. Vaginal intercourse was alleged by 15% of below the age of 10 years and 62% of above 10 years (P<0.01) and committed was by 73% of ‘boyfriends’ and 33% of non-boyfriends (P<0.01). Hymenal tears were in 15% of fimbriated and 45% of non-fimbriated hymen (P<0.05). Hymenal tears at 5-7 O’clock position in 40% of alleged vaginal intercourse and 3% of not alleged (P<0.01). Hymenal orifice diameter greater than 2 fingers was in 69% of alleged vaginal intercourse and 3% of not alleged (P<0.01). Anal intercourse was in 6% of females and 58% of males (P<0.01).Conclusion: Child sexual abuse is common among children above 10 years, during day time, by a known person at an outside place.  Vaginal intercourse is common among girls above 10 years by ‘boyfriends’ with a tear at 5-7 O’clock position.  Taut annular and crescentic hymen have a higher chance of getting torn than lax fimbriated hymen. Anal intercourse is committed on male than female children.  Findings will be useful for medico-legal and holistic management, and evidence based prevention of child sexual abuse

Young Tend to Commit Suicide, Die of Road Traffic Accidents or being Killed by Someone: an Analysis of Medico-Legal Deaths

Background: Young people tend to get aggressive or depressed and may risk their lives. This research was done to describe the associations of demographic findings with causes and postmortem findings of medico-legal deaths.Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study of all deaths reported to a selected tertiary care hospital in Colombo Sri Lanka from 1st of Janauary-2011 to 31st of December-2012 was conducted.Results: Out of 1502 postmortems 67.3% were natural deaths, 16.8% accidents, 6.1% suicides and 3.5% homicides. Majority (54.5%) were ‘pre-mature’ deaths (<60 years) with mean age of 54.4 (+/-19.1). Majority (71.4%) were males. Majority (47.7%) were non-communicable diseases and were 16.6% and 52% in =<30 and >30 years of age respectively (P<0.01). Cardio vascular system accounted for 40.7% deaths and was associated with both age and sex (P<0.01). The most common course of death was ischemic heart disease (22.9%) and was also associated with age (P<0.01). Out of 887 natural deaths only 170 were infectious communicable diseases, out of which 89 were respiratory causes.  Road traffic accidents accounted for 171 deaths and were 17.1% and 10.6% respectively among =<30 and >30 years (P<0.01). There were 34 train injury deaths and were 4.1% and 0.9% respectively among 5 police stations along the coastal railway line and other 10 police stations (P<0.01). There were 50 suicides by hanging and were associated with age (P<0.01) but not with gender or ethnicity (P>0.05). There were 46 homicides and were 7.8% and 2.4% among =<30 and >30 years respectively (P<0.01) but were not associated with gender and ethnicity (P>0.05).Conclusion: Non-communicable disease was the leading cause of mortality. Majority were ‘premature deaths’. Communicable diseases were dominant only in respiratory deaths. Adults more than 30 years old tend to die of non-communicable diseases especially by cardio vascular system causes such as ischemic heart disease. Young people less than 30 years old tend to die of road traffic accidents, commit suicide by hanging or being killed by someone. Limitation of access to railway lines in order to reduce the railway deaths is recommended

Dividend reductions and signaling in an imputation environment

In contrast to the double taxation system prevailing in the U.S., Australian firms operate within an imputation tax environment with respect to dividend payments. We argue that the dividend imputation tax system increases the signaling potential of dividend reductions and our empirical findings strongly support this view. We find that the size of the dividend reduction is related to the tax credit status of the dividend. Abnormal changes in profitability are negative in the year following dividend reductions and are negatively related to the dividend reduction; similar signaling effects are found in terms of price reactions. The significance levels for the relations between abnormal change in profitability and dividend reductions, and price reactions and dividend reductions are statistically significantly stronger for dividends with associated tax credits. Overall, our study conclusively demonstrates that dividend reductions in Australia have strong signaling power and, as such, our results are at variance with the results obtained in the U.S

Burnout of Sri Lankan Prison Officers: Exploring the Prevalence and Correlates

Background: High work demands and low work resources predispose employees to occupational burnout. Burnout of Sri Lankan prison officers has not been studied previously. Prison guards and prison rehabilitation officers are the staff categories who come into regular and direct contact with prison inmates. Aim: The study aimed to describe the prevalence of burnout and its three sub-domains in Sri Lankan prison officers and to explore the personal and work-related correlates of their burnout. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was carried out in 2017, among 1803 prison officers including 1683 prison guards and 120 prison rehabilitation officers working in 32 prison institutions island-wide. Prison guards were selected using multi-stage stratified sampling, while all the eligible Rehabilitation Officers were included. Self-administered, translated and validated Sinhala version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Services Survey and a self-developed questionnaire on correlates were used for collecting data. Results: The response rate was 98.53%. Majority of the participants were male (88%) and currently married (80.6%). True prevalence of burnout was 31.1% (95%CI:22.1-40.1). More than one third (37.8% - 95%CI:28.3–47.3) were suffering from diminished personal accomplishment, while over one fourth were suffering from emotional exhaustion (28.6% - 95%CI:19.7–37.5) and depersonalization (26.9% - 95%CI:18.2–35.6). Feeling overburdened by housework (OR–3.9,95%CI:1.6-9.3), working in closed prisons (OR–5.4,95%CI:1.3–21.7), remand prisons (OR–4.9,95%CI:1.2–19.3) and work camps (OR–6.7,95%CI:1.6–28.4), perceived difficulty in shift work (OR–2.4,95%CI:1.4–4.0) and in taking leave (OR–2.8,95%CI:1.5–5.4), work overload (OR–2.1,95%CI:1.1–3.7), poor relationship with colleagues (OR–10.6,95%CI:1.1–103.3) and with families of inmates (OR–4.7,95%CI:1.4–16.0), poor welfare facilities (OR–3.8,95%CI:1.6–8.7) and job dissatisfaction (OR:14.3,95%CI:4.4–46.8) were associated with a higher risk for burnout. Conclusion: Burnout among prison officers is a significant issue requiring prompt interventions including basic and in-service trainings focusing on stress management

The health of young people in Sri Lanka: conducive environment for road to adulthood – a desk review

Investing in young people is considered a high priority for developing a strong foundation for the future and it has higher benefit-cost ratios. Identifying the present environment in Sri Lanka for the health of young people is important for providing recommendations for the future.  This desk review was carried out to review the current environment that is facilitating the health of young people in Sri Lanka. The documents relevant for understanding the current context of policies and strategies on the health of young people were studied. Databases including Google Scholar and PubMed, websites, and documents collected from the experts and key persons were searched. A narrative report with key recommendations was prepared by synthesis of the information extracted. According to the review, there are policies, laws guidelines, and programs in Sri Lanka that address youth health and support access for services and also provide an environment that is conducive for access. These are supported directly and indirectly to the access and provision of the health of youth. There are many positive aspects for youth in the areas of education and health, although there are certain challenges and gaps yet to be addressed. There are very few misleading legal frameworks that prevent youth from accessing sexual health services. Restructuring of school and higher education systems, focusing on a skill-based education system, is an investment that will have a direct effect on promoting the health status of youth. The establishment and strengthening of youth-friendly services will be of utmost importance to improve the status of Sri Lankan youth, addressing the health issues in youth will need inter-sectoral collaboration

Atypical Flash Burns following Low Voltage Electrical Explosion: The Importance of Forensic Engineering

 Background:Accidental electrocutions during working activities account for a considerable amount of morbidity and mortality. Case Report: In this case, the findings were suggestive of a high voltage electrocution but the opinion of the electrical engineer helped the forensic pathologists to ascertain the real mechanism.A labourer was cleaning an abandoned porcelain factory, wearing incomplete protective attires, had a sudden explosion when he attempted to remove an iron pole with a shovel. He was thrown off and lost consciousness. There were dark brown superficial burns on facing and exposed sides. Areas covered by the helmet, hair and beard were spared. There were burn-free radially arranged elongated areas of the skin around eyes and nose. Eye brows were partially singed and eye lashes were completely burnt.  Inner aspects of both forearms (right more than left) were burnt leaving a horizontal upper margin at the elbow. The right sleeve of the shirt was melted along the fold with blister formation on the skin. Superficial light brown burns were on dorsum of both feet sparing the areas covered by the straps of slippers.  There were no charring, joule burns or multiple circumscribed and cavitated lesions. Though it was severe explosion involving more energy, the electrical engineer confirmed that it was a low voltage electrical explosion. Conclusion:Severe flash burns including partial loss of eye brows, complete loss of eye lashes and melting of clothes suggested high voltage electrocution. The electrical expert confirmed a low voltage electrocution and the severity of the explosion could have been due to three phase supply and the close proximity to the transformer.

HIV testing uptake and its association with behavior related stigma among key populations in western province, Sri Lanka: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Key populations are at the highest risk of acquiring and transmission of HIV. They are female sex workers, men who have sex with men, drug users, and the transgender community. Since these groups are hard to reach, they have a low HIV testing uptake. A probable reason for this could be the stigma and discrimination vested upon them. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the HIV testing uptake among the KP groups in the Western province in Sri Lanka and their association with behavior related stigma. Methods: Four hundred and ninety-eight drug users, 508 female sex workers, 564 men who have sex with men, and 40 transgender people from Colombo, Gampaha, and Kalutara districts were included in the study using respondent-driven sampling. HIV testing uptake was assessed as ever being tested for HIV which was included in the questionnaire to assess factors associated with stigma among key populations. The level of stigma was evaluated by using the behaviour related stigma tool developed and validated by the same researchers. Statistical analysis was done using RDS-A version 7 and SPSS version 22. Results: HIV testing uptake among female sex workers was 85.6% (95% CI: 82.3– 88.6) in the sample and the population proportion was 87.1% (95% CI: 84.4 – 89.7). The sample proportion among drug users was 43.0% (95% CI: 38.6 – 47.5) and was 38.6% (95% CI: 31.2 – 46.0) among their estimated total population. High level of behaviour related stigma was negatively associated with HIV testing uptake. It was statistically significant only among men who have sex with men (p= 0.04). Conclusion: Highest HIV testing uptake was reported from female sex workers and the lowest was reported from drug users. Association between the level of behaviour-related stigma and the HIV testing uptake was significant only among men who have sex with men