International journal of current multidisciplinary studies最新文献

{"title":"Does antioxidant potential of traditional rice varieties vary with processing?","authors":"T. Thennakoon, S. Ekanayake","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.144","url":null,"abstract":"Antioxidants protect cells and tissues from free radical damage and therefore, are important in the prevention and management of a variety of chronic diseases. Bran of pigmented rice are potent sources of naturally occurring antioxidants. Rice being the staple diet of Sri Lankans and traditional rice gaining more attention at present, investigating the effect of processing and cooking on total phenol content and antioxidant potentials of selected traditional rice varieties were the aims of this study. Differently processed (raw undermilled, raw polished [4%] and parboiled undermilled) six rice varieties, namely, Godaheenati, Batapola el, Dik wee, Dahanala, Unakola samba and, Hangimuththan were used in the study. The antioxidant properties of rice flour extracted with phosphate buffer solution (PBS) were determined by 2,2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)assays. Moreover, the total polyphenolic content (TPC) of differently processed rice was analysed. Mean TPC of both uncooked and cooked, raw polished rice was the least (4.9-6.1 mg GAE/g) followed by parboiled (4.9-6.1 mg GAE/g). The highest TPC was in raw (5.3-6.7 mg GAE/g) rice. Mean ABTS activity of raw polished rice (0.8-1.9 mg TE/g) was the least followed by parboiled (1.2- 2.3 mg TE/g) and raw rice (1.3-2.1 mg TE/g). Mean DPPH scavenging and FRAP activities followed the same pattern with raw rice having the highest (4.5-6.2 mg AE/100g; 4.6-14.4 mg AE/100g) followed by parboiled (4.4-5.1 mg AE/100g); 5.0-15.2 mg AE/100g) and the least in raw polished (4.0-4.6 mg AE/100g; 5.1-18.5 mg AE/100g) respectively. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant potential increased in the order of raw polished, parboiled, and raw rice flour in both cooked and uncooked rice. Rice grains with red coloured bran produced higher antioxidant activity compared to varieties with white bran. However, cooking reduced the antioxidant potentials in all differently processed varieties.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81816133","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative study on operation theatre facility utilization in government hospitals and semi-government hospitals","authors":"E. K. Wellala, G. Dharmaratne","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.138","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.138","url":null,"abstract":"The operation theatre (OT) complex is a costly component of a hospital budget expenditure. This area of hospital activity requires maximum utilization to ensure optimum cost-benefit ratio. Two tertiary care centers in the Colombo district, Sri Jayewardenepura General Hospital (SJGH), the only semi-government tertiary care center in Sri Lanka, and Colombo South Teaching Hospital (CSTH) providing similar service delivery to government hospitals were studied to compare utilization patterns. The results showed no significant statistical difference in average per-bed utilization of SJGH and CSTH (P=0.499). The average per-bed utilization rate at CSTH was 23.26%, and SJGH was 25.66%. There was a significant statistical difference in the average per-bed capacity utilization of operating theaters at CSTH and SJGH. The average per bed capacity utilization time per day was significantly higher at SJGH (P=0.040). The average per-bed capacity utilization rate at CSTH was 11.63% and 15.2% at SJGH. According to the Consultants' perception of the importance of factors affecting utilization, less significance is given to time management and related administrative functions even though they have the highest correlation to utilization factors. Utilization observed at both hospitals was lower than the global benchmark between 70% and 80%. The study identified the importance of factors affecting utilization towards human resource availability, motivation, training needs and equipment, and resource availability. Surgeons have given less priority to time management and related administrative functions though the literature suggests time management and relative administratively modifiable factors as the most critical factors. (Gupta, 2011). Therefore, it is recommended to address the factors such as “cancellation of planned surgeries”, “accurate prediction of procedure times in scheduling theatre lists”, “convenient theater time schedules with other clinical work”, “patient turn over time”, and “patient transport time from wards” as they can result in overall improvement in operating facility utilization.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87338085","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Taste of architectural space in real estate development: Review the concept of an emerging phenomenon","authors":"H. Herath, M. A. N. Rasanjalee Perera, D. P. Chadrasekara","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.143","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86238406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"English language teaching in government schools in Sri Lanka: a survey based on Kinniya Education Zone, Trincomalee","authors":"A. F. Abdul Halik","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.140","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.140","url":null,"abstract":"A This study was carried out with the aim of investigating the state of ELT in Kinniya Education Zone, Trincomalee and the factors affecting ELT. This study was a survey research and quantitative method was used for primary data collection. Kinniya Education Zone was selected as the research setting and 35 English as a Second Language teachers from 35 town schools and rural schools were randomly selected as sample population. A questionnaire with close-ended questions was used as the research instrument. Based on the findings of the data analysis, most of the participants’ educational qualifications were Higher National Diploma in English (HNDE) and English medium degrees. Moreover, a large number of students agreed that the ESL teachers in Kinniya Education Zone encounter challenges in teaching English. Lack of interest, lack of basic knowledge in English, crowded classrooms, use of traditional teaching methods and mother tongue and lack of modern teaching/learning equipment are identified as major factors for the failure of ELT in Kinniya Education Zone. According to participants’ responses, the following suggestions can be implemented at government schools in Sri Lanka to overcome the failure of ELT in Kinniya Education Zone. They are: use of modern teaching approaches, establishing a separate language unit with modern teaching equipment in each school, appointing competent and trained teachers at primary sections/schools, using English Language in the classrooms, reducing the number of students in the crowded classes and application of interesting language games and activities in the classroom.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81028155","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The prevalence and correlates of depressive symptoms in patients with cancer treated in a Tertiary health care facility in Southern Sri Lanka","authors":"E. Weeratunga, C. Senadheera, H. Hettiarachchi, B. Perera","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.137","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.137","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77830205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dialectic nature of digital culture: theoretical analysis of evolutionary ‘digital Buddhism’ of social media debate","authors":"W. Wijayarathna, P. Abhayasundere, P. Jayaweera","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.141","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.141","url":null,"abstract":"Popular Buddhism is one of the key cultural aspects in present Sri Lankan society.  Its main cause is the characteristics of the path of the Buddhism which it currently travels. Digital anthropology is a field that studies the complex relationships between human culture and the concept of digital. Prominently, digital is a concept based on binary numbers which means 1 and 0. This research aims to provide some insight into the behavior of digital within the social institution of religion. To accomplish these objectives the researchers utilized a Facebook page (Siri Sadaham Ashramaya) and conducted an analysis through the comments from its purposively selected post and it was based on speech act theory elaborated by J. L. Austin (1962) and John Searle (1975). The theoretical approach for this research is the first principle of digital anthropology: dialectic nature of digital culture, developed by Daniel Miller and Heather Horst. A hypothesis was applied as: modern popular Buddhism expand the dialectic nature of culture through social media that consisted of thesis, antithesis, and synthesis as Hegal and Marx stated. The results of the study proved the hypothesis and the opinions of the respective audience’s reactions and comments among the applied Facebook page, and emphasized the dialectical nature of digital culture which means the contribution to the increment of logical background of the culture. Consequently, this study suggests that the modern popular Buddhism concept evolved into a novel concept as “Digital Buddhism” and it can be defined as a new division of Sri Lankan Buddhism as proposed by Gananth Obeyesekere and Richard Gombrich during 1988s. Researchers propose a newly designed model to analyze the digital nature and the theoretical perspective of digital anthropology utilizing the nature of modern popular Buddhism. \u0000KEYWORDS:  anthropology, digital, dialectic, popular Buddhism, culture","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83019043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of selected water quality parameters on the prevalence of Poecilia reticulata (Guppy) population in Sri Jayewardenepura canal system","authors":"P. Pethiyagoda, S. De Alwis, B. D. de Silva","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v8i2.139","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v8i2.139","url":null,"abstract":"Present study was carried out to determine the effect of some selected water quality parameters on the prevalence of P. reticulata(Guppy) population in Sri Jayewardenepura canal system. Fish and water samples were collected in six locations from January 2016 to December 2017. Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Electrical Conductivity (EC), Hardness, Alkalinity, Nitrate-Nitrogen (N-NO 3 - ), Orthophosphate (PO 4 3- ) ,Temperature, pH ,Water velocity and depths in each sites were measured. Total lengths and weights of specimens (n-520) were measured and relative densities (RD) were calculated. Guppy was the most abundant species in all sites and high densities were recorded at slow moving and stagnated shallow waters. Results revealed that all the sites were subjected to moderate or high pollution and most conspicuous were the low DO (0.83±0.12-4.84±0.76 mg/l) and high BOD (1.78±0.4-9.10±0.6 mg/l) levels. Polluted water quality of studied locations were further confirmed by high values for (N-NO3-) (3.9±0.8-11.5±1.2 mg/l), PO43- (1.9±0.4-3.9±0.3mg/l) and EC (257.6±12.8-801.6±42.0µS/cm). Other recorded water quality parameters pH (6.6±0.2– 8.3±0.4), Temperature (29.9±1.1-8.3±0.4), Hardness (80.0±10.4- 113.3±13.1 mg/l) and Alkalinity (70.7±11.5-179.6±20.4 mg/l) are in suitable range of fish and aquatic life. Despite the fact that the locations were polluted, RD of guppy (32.7±27.7-85.7±22.9) were considerable in all locations. The study showed that the RD of guppy significantly varied with some of the water quality parameters; decreasing with increasing DO, N-NO 3- ,PO 43- levels (P≤0.05) as well as with water depths and velocity of water and increasing with increasing pH, BOD and alkalinity of water. The study recorded that the average adult sizes of fish were smaller (♀-35 mm, ♂-25 mm) than the previous records (♀-60 mm, ♂-40 mm) in the present study area. Thus, study concludes that, although the water quality parameters are affecting their growth rates and relative densities.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75631895","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Projected extreme rainfall indices in Guinea and Sudano-sahelian Ecological Zones, Nigeria","authors":"A. Salihu, A. Abdulkadir, G. N. Nsofor, M. Y. Otache","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v7i1.120","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v7i1.120","url":null,"abstract":"Drought and Flood episodes are twin issues that are consequences of extreme rainfall events. The negative impact of extreme rainfall events makes understanding their behaviour under the future climate change necessary for regional planning. Hence, the objective of the study is to project extreme rainfall indices in Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zones, Nigeria. A set of four extreme rainfall indices namely: maximum 5-day rainfall (Rx5day), heavy rainfall days (R10mm), consecutive wet days (CWD) and consecutive dry days (CDD) were adopted. The data and computation were done using KNMI Climate Explorer. Projections were produced for the near-term 2019-2048, mid-term 2049-2078 and long-term 2079-2100 periods with reference to the 1959-1988 and 1989-2018 baselines. The multi-model ensemble mean of couple model intercomparison project 5 (CMIP5) under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 were used. Mann-Kendal statistical test was adopted to analyze the trends in extreme rainfall indices at the 0.05 significance level. Based on the results, it can be deduced that there is a significant positive trend in the whole Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zone as a region for maximum 5-day rainfall with respect to all the three RCPs. As for heavy rainfall, itreveals that there is no significant positive trend for RCP2.6 with respect to the three projected periods under consideration but significant positive trends with respect to 2049-2078 for RCP4.5 as well as RCP8.5 with respect to 2049-2078 and 2079-2100 periods. Increase in CDD, as well as a decrease in CWD, were both not significant at the 0.05 confidence level. Therefore, it is expected that this study will aid guidance to the understanding of the ongoing changes as well as possible changes in rainfall and rainfall-related extremes. It is also important for future planning of water resources management and agriculture in Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zones of Nigeria.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75892948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antimicrobial properties of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) varieties cultivated in Sri Lanka","authors":"S. Jayawardana, J. Samarasekera, G. Hettiarachchi, J. Gooneratne, R. Maharjan, M. Choudhary","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v7i1.123","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v7i1.123","url":null,"abstract":"The emerging significance of natural antimicrobial agents creates an imperative need to identify novel plant sources with antimicrobial activities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal and β-lactamase enzyme inhibitory activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Ravi, Rawana and Oshadha finger millet varieties. Flours of whole grains of the finger millet varieties were extracted with absolute ethanol and methanol separately. Antibacterial activities against six antibiotic-sensitive and four antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacterial strains were evaluated using the resazurin reduction assay. Antifungal activities against six antimicrobial-sensitive pathogenic fungal strains were evaluated using the agar tube dilution method. β-Lactamase enzyme inhibitory activity was evaluated using a standard method. Both ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the three finger millet varieties showed dose-dependent inhibitory activities against the tested antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains while exhibiting high inhibitions against Gram-positive antibiotic-sensitive bacterial strains when compared to Gram-negative antibiotic-sensitive bacterial strains. The findings revealed the antibacterial potential of both ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the three finger millet varieties against antibiotic-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC ® 6538™) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC ® 23857™) strains and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts against S. aureus and B. subtilis were found to be 2.1 and 1.8 mg/ml, respectively. However, none of the extracts can be considered as significantly active against the tested antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains when compared to the standard drugs. In addition, none of the extracts can be considered as active against the tested fungal strains at the tested concentrations. Nevertheless, all extracts showed more activities against the tested bacterial strains when compared to the tested fungal strains. Since all extracts showed less than 40% β-lactamase inhibitory activities even at 2 mg/ml concentration, they do not qualify as promising sources of β-lactamase inhibitors at the tested concentration.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87463652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the sediments of Meda - Ela canal near Karadiyana semi-controlled dumpsite, Sri Lanka","authors":"S. Koliyabandara, A. Cooray, S. Liyanage, C. Siriwardana","doi":"10.4038/ijms.v7i1.118","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4038/ijms.v7i1.118","url":null,"abstract":"The pollution of natural waterbodies with landfill leachate from dumpsites is a severe environmental issue all over the world. Karadiyana semi-controlled dumpsite in the Western province of Sri Lanka is one of the largest dumpsites in the country. The leachate generated in the dumpsite directly flows into Meda Ela canal which is a tributary of Bolgoda Lake Weras Ganga system causing a significant pollution threat on aquatic life. The current study assesses the contamination level of selected heavy metals in the sediments of Meda-Ela close to the dumpsite. The study was carried out for a period of one year from January - December 2018. The sediment samples were characterized with an alkaline pH ranging from 8.40 to 8.70. The electrical conductivity of the sediment was recorded with a mean value of 139.93 ± 26.7 µS/cm. The mean concentration of Cu in sediment was of 73.53± 2.52 mg/Kg and it falls into the EPA guideline for heavily polluted sediments. Total Cu concentration exceeds the threshold effect concentration but falls below the probable effect concentration. The total Fe concentration was relatively high (110.83 ±1.96 mg/Kg) among the measured metal species. The other metals, Cd, Cr and Zn was recorded with mean concentrations of 0.38 ± 0.03,103 ± 41.62, 94.4 ± 2.08 mg/Kg respectively. Pollution Load Index of the sediment was 0.87 and therefore it comes under no pollution category. This suggests that there is no appreciable input from anthropogenic sources. Based on geo- accumulation index, sediments are moderately polluted with respect to Cu and Cd.","PeriodicalId":91884,"journal":{"name":"International journal of current multidisciplinary studies","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2020-06-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73051427","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}