The biology and population dynamics of Sitona Regensteinensis hbst. (col. Curculionidae)

Imperial Users onl

Simulator study to determine the wind speed limitation for a Passenger Cruise Vessel entering and berthing in the Port of Hambantota, Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is being promoted as a tourist destination and the port of Hambanthota is having visits from Passengers. The port of Hambanthota in Sri Lanka is on the busy main east-west sea route. It has become necessary to determine if a Passenger Cruise Ship can be berthed safely in differing monsoonal wind conditions. Before a ship is manoeuvred into a port in the real sense, simulator trials are necessary to be carried out to see if the ship can be manoeuvred safely in varying conditions with all available resources. Simulator trials have been recognized as a cost-effective way to determine the safe limitations and prevent mishaps. The CINEC simulator research team successfully created the simulator environment of the port of Hambanthota as a part of the research under AHEAD operations of the ministry of high education funded by the world bank. As per the analysis of the results of simulator trials, it has been concluded that the wind speed should be limited to 20 knots for safe berthing mainly due to the berthing tug power used

Antimicrobial Potential of Phytochemicals from Coccinia grandis Leaves: A Molecular Docking Study Against Penicillin-Binding Protein 5 of Escherichia coli and DNA Topoisomerase IV Subunit B (ParE 24kDa) of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli

Coccinia grandis (C. grandis) leaves, traditionally used in Sri Lanka for diabetes management, also have a potential antimicrobial activity. In this study, site-specific molecular docking was performed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of phytochemicals of Coccinia grandis leaves against Penicillin-binding protein 5 (PBP 5) and DNA topoisomerase IV subunit B (ParE 24kDa) of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and DNA topoisomerase IV subunit B (ParE 24kDa) of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Penicillin was selected as the reference molecule for Penicillin-binding protein 5 and for DNA topoisomerase IV subunit B (ParE 24kDa), Novobiocin was selected as the reference molecule. The results identified Lupeol (-7.72 kcal/mol) and Beta-Sitosterol (-8.21kcal/mol) have a higher binding affinity to PBP5 of E. coli than Penicillin (-7.20 kcal/mol). Quercetin (-6.70 kcal/mol), Kaempferol (-6.95 kcal/mol), Naringenin (-7.07 kcal/mol), Isoquercetin (-6.15 kcal/mol), Lupeol (-7.87 kcal/mol), Beta-Sitosterol (-9.42 kcal/mol) and Sanguinarine (-9.07 kcal/mol) show higher binding affinity to DNA topoisomerase IV subunit B (ParE 24kDa) of S. aureus than novobiocin (-6.04 kcal/mol). As well Quercetin (-6.85 kcal/mol), Kaempferol (-6.82 kcal/mol), Naringenin (-7.23 kcal/mol), Isoquercetin (-6.20 kcal/mol), Lupeol (-7.67 kcal/mol), Beta-Sitosterol (-9.08 kcal/mol) and Sanguinarine (-9.03 kcal/mol) show higher binding affinity to DNA topoisomerase IV subunit B (ParE 24kDa) of E. coli than novobiocin (-5.76 kcal/mol). In silico pharmacokinetic and physicochemical parameter predictions were also conducted to study drug-likeness of above molecules using specialized web servers

The Fuscous Honeyeater: Food Resources and the Bird Community

Honeyeaters (Family Meliphagidae) are common, diverse and dominant in many Australian habitats. This study examined the role of the Fuscous Honeyeater ('Lichenostomus fuscus') in a bird community of eucalypt woodland on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. From mid-1984 to mid-1988, the bird community was studied at Eastwood State Forest, 12km south-east of Armidale. Preliminary observations found that the Fuscous Honeyeaters were aggressive and quite concentrated in their distribution, being seen mostly in areas of many gum trees (in the subgenus 'Symphyomyrtus'). Woinarski and Cullen (1984) found that gums had more arthropods, especially lerps (Family Psyllidae: Hemiptera) on their leaves than stringybarks did (subgenus 'Monocalyptus'). Recher (1985) suggested that this was the reason why more birds were found in areas with many gums than in areas with many stringybarks. Gums often grow on better soils and consequently, often have more nutrients in their leaves (Lambert and Turner 1983). This thesis aimed to examine the relationships between arthropods, types of eucalypts, the bird community, and in particular the behaviour and ecology of the Fuscous Honeyeater. A censusing program was designed to establish the distribution of Fuscous Honeyeaters, and of other bird species. One hundred census points were located within the Forest and the vegetation was assessed at these points. Stringybarks ('Eucalyptus (Monocalyptus) caliginosa') were found to be the most common tree species and had an importance value of 54.2% (see Chapter 2). The other significant tree species, in order of declining importance, were 'E. viminalis' (15.2% ), 'E. blakelyi' (13.0%) and 'E. melliodora' (7.8%, all species in 'Symphyomyrtus'). The total density of trees was 245 individuals/ha, and the density of mistletoes was 4.8 individuals/ha. Birds were counted monthly at sixty points throughout Eastwood from autumn 1986 to autumn 1987, and again in autumn 1988. Concurrently, data were collected on several environmental variables, such as flowering indices of trees and mistletoes. Flowering was mostly poor during this study

Development of a seaweed-based vegan burger patty rich in protein

Seaweed is a versatile plant used globally for food and non-food applications, valued for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. In Sri Lanka, seaweed is abundant yet underutilized due to limited awareness. This study developed a vegetarian burger patty incorporating seaweed to address micronutrient deficiencies. Ulva fasciata (green algae) and Sargassum sp. (brown algae) were selected for their high nutrient value. Fresh seaweed was sorted, soaked in a 4% brine solution, rinsed, washed, blanched, dried, ground, and sieved into powder. Steam blanching was selected to preserve seaweed's nutritional and sensory qualities, enhancing the protein and mineral content of burger patties. The proximate composition (dry basis) of Ulva fasciata includes 24.07%±0.02 protein, 0.81%±0.00 fat, 42.14%±0.01 carbohydrates, 11.59%±0.06 ash, 21.37%± 0.02 fiber, whereas Sargassum sp. contains 13.92%±0.03 protein, 0.79%±0.00 fat, 49.89%±0.01 carbohydrates, 26.97%±0.04 ash, 7.98%±0.00 fiber, highlighting significant nutrient content, with Ulva fasciata showing higher protein, fiber values. Burger patties with varying Ulva fasciata content (50%,55%,60%,65%) were prepared with tomato, onion, garlic, corn flour, and spices. Sensory evaluation by a trained panel using a 7-point hedonic scale assessed color, appearance, odor, texture, taste, aftertaste, mouthfeel, and overall acceptability. Proximate analysis of the seaweed based burger patty revealed a moisture content of 32.45±0.013%, fat content of 10.86±0.042%, protein content of 11.99±0.17%, carbohydrate content of 30.50±0.14%, ash content of 4.79±0.01%, and fibre content of 8.94±0.03%. Elemental analysis showed reduced heavy metals like Pb and As in burger patties compared to raw Ulva fasciata

The impact of supply chain management practices on organizational performances with special reference to the hotel industry in Sri Lanka

Effective Supply Chain Management (SCM) has become an important tool of improving Organizational Performance (OP) and gaining competitive advantage. This study conceptualizes and develops five SCM dimensions; strategic supplier partnership, customer relationship, level of information sharing, quality of information sharing, and postponement and identify the impact of those practices on organizational performance. Data were collected from 50 hotels and structured questionnaire has used to collect date from respondents. Karl Pearson Correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis was performed to identify the relationship and impact of SCM practices on organizational performances. The results indicate that SCM practices have discernible impact on organizational performance and increased organizational performance provides a firmly increased capital for the implementation of different SCM practices. In addition, the study identified financial performances as the most significant dimension affected by the SCM practices in the Hotel Industry of Sri Lanka than market performance. Hence, this research offers a supportive tool for SCM executives to evaluate the exhaustiveness of their current SCM procedures

Pest insect immigration warning system by an atmospheric dispersion model, weather radars and traps

Peer reviewe

Consequences of infanticide for a gregarious ectoparasitoid of leafroller larvae

1. In this laboratory study, the clutch size and handling time of Goniozus jacintae were investigated, a comparison of its life-history performance between primary and secondary (laid after infanticide events) broods was carried out, and the lipid and protein concentrations in the haemolymph of non-parasitised and parasitised hosts were estimated. 2. It was found that G. jacintae temporarily paralysed its host larvae for 66 min and briefly guarded its brood for 66 min. The clutch size of G. jacintae increased from two to seven with increasing larval fresh weight of its host, and both ovicide and larvicide of primary clutches occurred in 81% of encounters. 3. Secondary clutches of G. jacintae were significantly larger than primary clutches in two of three ovicide treatments for the same host individuals. Secondary clutches also experienced greater brood survivorship than primary clutches. 4. Lipid concentrations were consistently higher in the haemolymph of parasitised hosts, and protein concentrations were initially higher (until egg hatch), but increased at a lower rate in parasitised hosts than in non-parasitised hosts. 5. This study is the first to provide evidence that improved nutritional quality could be an important benefit of infanticide for an insect parasitoid, allowing for larger clutch size and improved brood survivorship among secondary broods