University of Peradeniya

About: University of Peradeniya is a education organization based out in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 5970 authors who have published 7388 publications receiving 197002 citations.

Prevalence of cryptosporidium and other enteric parasites among wild non-human primates in Polonnaruwa, Sri Lanka.

Abstract: Cryptosporidiosis is a rapidly emerging disease in the tropics. This is the first report of Cryptosporidium and other protozoan infections (Entamoeba spp., Iodamoeba, Chilomastix, and Balantidium spp.) in wild primates that inhabit the natural forest of Sri Lanka. It is unclear if non-human primates serve as a reservoir for these parasites under certain conditions. A cross-sectional coprologic survey among 125 monkeys (89 toque macaques, 21 gray langurs, and 15 purple-faced langurs) indicated that Cryptosporidium was detected in all three primate species and was most common among monkeys using areas and water that had been heavily soiled by human feces and livestock. Most macaques (96%) shedding Cryptosporidium oocysts were co-infected with other protozoans and important anthropozoonotic gastrointestinal parasites (e.g., Enterobius and Strongyloides). The transmission of these parasites among primates in the wild may have important implications for public health as well as wildlife conservation management.

Nontimber forest product gathering in Ritigala forest (Sri Lanka): Household strategies and community differentiation

Abstract: Sri Lanka has a long tradition of forest product use. The relationship of people with a dry zone forest was studied using a sample of 48 households in two villages that varied in distance to the forest and access to the market. All households interviewed collected subsistence forest products and a majority of them also collected commercial products. The daily peak-season income from commercial gathering was 4.5 to 7.7 times the daily labor wage. There is a strong gender specialization, with commercial gathering dominated by men whereas subsistence gathering is almost exclusively the task of women. The average forest-derived household income in the village closer to the forest and with better market access was nearly double that of the other village. Family size as a proxy of labor availability was the main discriminating factor between those households who did and those who did not gather commercial products. A small inverse relationship between forest gathering and size of household agricultural land (particularly paddy rice) was observed. No clear relationship was found between total household income and forest derived income, contradicting the view that commercial forest gathering is an exclusive activity of the poorest households.

Application of Coal Fly Ash in Agriculture: A Strategic Perspective

Abstract: Fly ash is a major waste of coal-power generation and its management is a major environmental and economic challenge, and it will become even more critical with a projected increase in the reliance on coal for power generation. The authors discuss how the unique physicochemical properties of ash can be strategically employed to ameliorate acidity and sodicity, and physical and fertility constraints, in agricultural soils. They show that with careful selection of ash type and methods and rates of application, mutually compatible with the soil and crop type, the often reported phytotoxicity due to high concentrations of certain trace metals can be avoided while maintaining the quality of produce and minimizing risk to the environment. Specific examples are presented to demonstrate where it is economical to use fly ash as a low-cost alternative to certain fertilizers and liming materials on farms. The authors also propose criteria for the selection of ash and for regulatory parameters that would ensure the s...

Long-term Effects of Snake Envenoming

Abstract: Long-term effects of envenoming compromise the quality of life of the survivors of snakebite We searched MEDLINE (from 1946) and EMBASE (from 1947) until October 2018 for clinical literature on the long-term effects of snake envenoming using different combinations of search terms We classified conditions that last or appear more than six weeks following envenoming as long term or delayed effects of envenoming Of 257 records identified, 51 articles describe the long-term effects of snake envenoming and were reviewed Disability due to amputations, deformities, contracture formation, and chronic ulceration, rarely with malignant change, have resulted from local necrosis due to bites mainly from African and Asian cobras, and Central and South American Pit-vipers Progression of acute kidney injury into chronic renal failure in Russell’s viper bites has been reported in several studies from India and Sri Lanka Neuromuscular toxicity does not appear to result in long-term effects Endocrine anomalies such as delayed manifestation of hypopituitarism following Russell’s viper bites have been reported Delayed psychological effects such as depressive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder and somatisation have been reported Blindness due to primary and secondary effects of venom is a serious, debilitating effect In general, the available studies have linked a clinical effect to a snakebite in retrospect, hence lacked accurate snake authentication, details of acute management and baseline data and are unable to provide a detailed picture of clinical epidemiology of the long-term effects of envenoming In the future, it will be important to follow cohorts of snakebite patients for a longer period of time to understand the true prevalence, severity, clinical progression and risk factors of long-term effects of snake envenoming

Nanobiochar: production, properties, and multifunctional applications

Abstract: Nanobiochar has received much attention recently among engineered biochar types owing to its useful chemical and physical properties. Research efforts have attempted to discover novel methods for nanobiochar preparation and applications. In this review, we summarize the literature on various aspects of nanobiochar preparation, production and use. Often, the bulk parent biochar is obtained from biomass pyrolysis, and mechanically ground using different milling processes to fabricate nanobiochar. Apart from mechanical means, direct fabrication of nanobiochar through flash heating resulting in graphitic nanosheets has been reported. Process conditions applied to the parent biochar directly influence the properties of the resulting nanobiochar. For instance, over 70% of 33 nanobiochar samples derived from biomass pyrolyzed above 450 °C demonstrated 32 times greater BET specific surface areas than nanobiochar produced at <450 °C. Nanobiochar has diverse applications, such as in wastewater treatment, health care applications, use as an electrode material, and in supercapacitors and sensors, owing to its wide range of physical and chemical properties. However, the toxicity of nanobiochar to human and ecosystem health has not received sufficient research attention. More research should be performed to elucidate the drawbacks, such as the high agglomeration potential and low yield, of nanobiochar for practical uses. Furthermore, reported data are insufficient to obtain a clear idea of the nature and behavior of nanobiochar, despite the growing interest in the research topic. Hence, future research should be driven towards exploring techniques to improve the yield of nanobiochar, reduce agglomeration, upscale it for electrode supercapacitor production and understand toxicological aspects.