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Ceylon Journal of Science
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This is an Open Access Journal

Open Access journal
ISSN (Print) 2513-2814 - ISSN (Online) 2513-230X
Published by Sri Lanka Journals Online

[71 journals]

Ladder of Scientific Research to Develop the Developing Nations
- Abstract: NA Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Providing a sound theoretical base and appropriate skills at early ages
through nutrition education to improve food consumption patterns in Sri
Lanka
- Abstract: In Sri Lankan schools, the topic of food and nutrition is included from Grade 1 onwards until secondary school, and beyond depending on the field of specialization. In spite of that, national nutritional statistics indicate that the nation’s food consumption patterns are far from satisfactory. Marginal deficiencies in micronutrients known as hidden hunger, and unhealthy excess weight gain associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) even among school children are current day issues pertaining to malnutrition. The cereal-based Sri Lankan diet typically low in animal sources of food could be converted to a more wholesome diet with only simple modifications. Educating the future generation on core nutritional concepts specified by the National Nutritional Policy will carry the message of nutrition to society and will enable strengthening the countrywide food security. The present review argues that deficiencies in food consumption patterns could be rectified with minimal changes to the school curricula by systematically introducing relevant nutritional information from Grade 1 onwards, gradually developing to secondary education level. Incorporating general nutritional concepts to the curricula, first concentrating on compulsory subjects, before Grade 11 and thereafter providing specialized knowledge when the students are divided into different streams, thus aligning the content with the specialization called for, is envisaged to have an immediate impact on the society. This review identifies some topics to be included and skills to be developed at each level to provide a systematic means of rectifying unhealthy eating patterns. This is an endeavor where nutritionists and educationists have to work together with the common goal of resolving the nation’s nutritional problems. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Chemical intercalation of graphite using chromium trioxide for the anode
application in rechargeable sodium-ion batteries
- Abstract: Among naturally occurring graphite, Sri Lankan vein graphite (SLVG) is well known for its high initial purity in the range of 95 - 99% carbon, high crystallinity, extensive mineralization, and mode of occurrences. Due to its distinctive properties, Sri Lankan vein graphite has been proved to be a promising anode material for rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (LIB) applications. With the increasing demand for rechargeable energy sources, the supply of Lithium-ion batteries (LIB) could be hindered by the limited lithium reserves. Therefore, alternatives for Lithium in LIBs are being explored. In this context Sodium-ion batteries (SIB) have attracted much attention during the recent past. This study focused on studying the intercalation and deintercalation of Na+ ions into the domain of Graphite Intercalation Compound (GIC), fabricated from natural vein graphite, for the anode application of rechargeable SIBs. Graphite Intercalation Compounds with CrO3 (GIC-CO) were successfully synthesized using SLVG as the starting material. The synthesized GIC-CO exhibited an interlayer spacing of 4.02 Å which is regarded to be suitable for Na + ion intercalation. The anode material fabricated from GIC-CO showed a capacity of 26.9 mA h g-1 which is higher than that of pristine graphite (13 mA h g-1). This shows the potential of utilizing this GIC for anode applications in SIBs. The anode could be improved by optimizing the molar ratios of CrO 3 and the reaction time to obtain expanded graphite making it appropriate for high-capacity SIB application
  Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Native Sri Lankan bees enhance pollination of sesame, Sesamum
indicum
- Abstract: Decline of bee pollinators results in insufficient crop pollination, lowering the quality, and quantity of crop yields. In Sri Lanka, there is a lack of research on the importance of local bees in sesame pollination. The current study investigated the role of Sri Lankan native bees in pollinating sesame and increasing crop productivity. The research was carried out at Meewatura Farm, located in the Kandy District of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. Three pollination trials were conducted to determine the contribution of bees to enhance seed number, weight, and germinability of sesame, selecting 100 sesame flower buds randomly for each trial. One set of flowers buds was covered to prevent bee visits; another set was kept open to enable bee visits, while the third set was pollinated by hand. Six bee species; Systropha tropicalis, Gnathonomia nasicana, Lasioglossum serenum (F: Halictidae), Apis cerana, Amegilla comberi, and Ceratina binghami (F: Apidae), were identified as visitors of sesame flowers. Period of stigma receptivity (0700 - 1100 h) and pollen availability (0640 - 1000 h) coincided with the highest bee activity period from (0830 - 1030 h). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in seed number, seed weight, and seed germinability were detected among the three trials. Open flowers had significantly higher seed number (p = 0.0001) and seed germinability (p = 0.0001) than covered flowers. Although there was no significant difference in seed weight between seeds produced from open flowers and covered flowers, the seed weight of hand-pollinated flowers was significantly higher than the other two treatments (p = 0.0001). This pioneering study highlights the role of native bees of Sri Lanka to enhance production in S. indicum in terms of seed number and quality. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Bayesian linear regression model for method comparison studies
- Abstract: Method comparison is an essential area related to clinical science and study to compare a new method with an existing method to check if a new one can replace with an existing method. This study proposes an efficient methodology for homoscedastic measurements to evaluate the agreement between two methods using Bayesian inference. This proposed model introduces an accurate, model-fitting easiness, less time required, and an assumption-less model. Simulation is used to assess and compare the finite sample performance. Simulations were carried out, and the coverage probabilities and credible intervals were calculated for each trial. Coverage probabilities of model parameters, alpha, and beta, imply that those are between the credible interval with 96% and 96.5%, respectively. It is observed that the coverage probabilities are decreasing with the increase of sample size. The proposed methodology is then used to analyze the Cardiac Ejection Fraction data. The best-fitted model was selected using the minimum error values and evaluated the agreement between the two methods using that model. The proposed model was chosen as the best model, considering the two methods have good agreement. The proposed model performed well, specifically with the small sample sizes. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Physicochemical, nutritional, phytoconstituents, and antioxidant
properties of three different processing techniques of pumpkin (Cucurbita
pepo) pulp flour
- Abstract: This study investigated the effect of boiling and fermentation on the physicochemical, functional, phytoconstituents, and antioxidant properties of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo) pulp flour. The fresh pumpkin pulp obtained was divided into three equal portions for making pumpkin flour and subjected to boiling and fermentation, while the third portion was used as uncooked sample. Fermentation was carried out naturally by soaking the pumpkin pulp in 1:3 (w/v) ratio of water at 25 ℃ for 48 h using a traditional method, while boiling was at 100 ℃ for 20 min. The samples were thereafter oven-dried at 60 ℃ and milled into flour. The fermented sample had the lowest pH and the highest protein content, while the boiled sample had the highest fibre content. Boiled and fermented samples had higher Ca, K, and P contents. The total phenol and FRAP increased by boiling and fermentation. However, the fresh pumpkin sample had the highest total flavonoid content and ABTS ability. The fermented sample recorded the highest DPPH radical scavenging ability and the least phytoconstituents. All the flour samples (uncooked, boiled, and fermented) showed reasonable physicochemical and antioxidant properties while fermented samples had the highest nutritional content, antioxidant properties, and the least phytoconstituents. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Sustainable pressure-driven membrane facility controlled by a smartphone
application for groundwater desalination in the dry zone of Sri Lanka
- Abstract: Presently over three million people, mostly living in the dry zone of Sri Lanka, experiencing acute water stress due to excess salinity which results in palatability problems. In many parts of the world, reverse osmosis (RO) and nanofiltration (NF) technologies are successfully used for water desalination. However, in Sri Lanka, these methods show limited success due to inappropriate or over technologies adapted. The selection of the membranes depends on the source water salinity variations. We judiciously selected a groundwater source that requires desalination. The geochemical evolution of the groundwater source was determined by the 1D inverse modelling method. The source water salinity is ascribed to the incongruent dissolution of silicate minerals into montmorillonite followed by an ion-exchange process. The transition of geochemical facies from (non-dominant cation) NDC-HCO3- (discharge zone) to Ca-HCO3 (recharge zone) water type is observed along subsurface flow paths. After regulating the water turbidity (below 0.1 NTU), appropriate RO and NF membrane configuration was chosen for desalination. No external chemicals were added to maintain electrolytes balance in the treated water. The wastewater generated by the membrane treatment is blended appropriately for other community water needs. The chemical quality of treated water was optimized by a homogeneous diffusion-solution modelling method. The laboratory water plant is automated enabling remote operation and user-end maintenance via a mobile phone application. This step is vital to minimize community participation in plant maintenance. By our method, over 95% of the feed water was utilized for community use in compliance with the UNESCO Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) program. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Species diversity and coexistence of mosquito larvae breeding in
phytotelmata microhabitats; a cross-sectional study from Kalutara
district, Western Province, Sri Lanka
- Abstract: Phytotelmata are used by many insects for breeding. This study was designed to identify mosquito species breed in phytotelmata available in the Kalutara district. A larval survey was carried out once every two months from January 2019 to April 2021 in thirteen Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas. For each survey, 20 premises including houses, institutions, public places, roadsides, open areas, and plantations were examined in one randomly selected Grama Niladari (GN) division in each MOH area. According to the study, 18 mosquito species belonging to 6 genera were identified in 8 types of phytotelmata namely; tree holes, bamboo stumps, leaf axils, tree trunks, fruit husks, fruit shells, fallen leaves, and fallen spathes. Species richness was highest in tree holes and species diversity was highest in fallen leaves. Similarly, 17 types of coexistence could be observed. The coexistence of four species Aedes chrysolineatus, Ae. downsiomyia, Ae. w-albus, and Ae. krombeini were observed in Dillenia suffruticosa fallen leaves. Species richness and species diversity of mosquitoes that breed in phytotelmata were highest in Walallawita. The correlation between the volume of water in phytotelmata and the number of larvae in the phytotelmata habitat was statistically insignificant. Although phytotelma is a hidden aquatic habitat, this study indicated that it is an important breeding place for a variety of mosquitoes including vector mosquitoes such as Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
The first report of Curvularia senegalensis causing leaf and floral spots
on Zinnia elegans in Sri Lanka
- Abstract: Nursery-grown Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) in Peradeniya, Central Province, Sri Lanka showed necrotic, reddish-brown, circular to irregular-shaped, 1-2 mm diameter spots scattered over the leaves and ray florets which developed a whitish center with time. At the advanced stage, the necrotic spots merged, and the whole leaf/flower was infected. The fungus associated with the disease was identified as Curvularia senegalensis based on morphological and molecular data. Inoculated leaves produced necrotic symptoms and subsequent pathogen recovery was confirmed through Koch’s postulates. This study provides the first report of Curvularia senegalensis causing leaf and floral spots on Z. elegans in Sri Lanka. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00
Characterization of two species of Physalis L. by using fruit and seed
characteristics
- Abstract: The fruit and seed characteristic of Physalis peruviana L. and P. pruinosa L. were studied using fruit and seed colour, and shape along with dimensions and spermoderm pattern. The basic spermoderm sculpture was reticulate and mircro-reticulate in P. peruviana and P. pruinosa respectively. The epidermal cells of P. peruviana were large, irregular, non-isodiametric, and 08 - 15 gonals whereas in P. pruinosa small, irregular, and conjugate. Anticlinal boundaries of cells in P. peruviana observed sinuate, channeled, and thick while in P. pruinosa were straight to slightly sinuous and thin. Periclinal cell wall boundaries were observed as highly concave and straight to slightly concave in P. peruviana and P. pruinosa respectively. The study is useful for identification of both species by seeds. Published on 2022-03-14 00:00:00