Accumulate and consolidate the traditional vernacular timber preservation technologies through a field survey.

There are remarks on diverse types of timber structures in the tropics. This paper examines several case histories in Sri Lanka, focusing on the culturally varied and ecologically diverse traditional buildings with wood used for construction. The main objective was to gather data and document the knowledge on wood preservation. Information was gathered through face-to-face interviews with 270 individuals' reference to 138 structures. A holistic analysis was performed to understand the techniques used to overcome the degradation mechanisms and state of conservation. The demographic profile of the informants was evaluated and cross-relationships on the tabulated data were analyzed by SPSS statistical software following the snow-balling sampling technique. There were three main preservation techniques identified from the open-ended questions namely, wood kept under smoke pits, wood kept under paddy field mud, and wood kept under the river banks. Preserving wood by keeping it under paddy field mud (49.62 %) was the highest recorded answer. The most obtained material matrix of preservation was plant origins (48.88 %). For generations, people have transmitted traditional and cultural practices through oral knowledge. The results conclude this knowledge places a high value on protecting construction technologies and applications while preserving biodiversity. Unfortunately, by today this technology has started extinct. The results revealed the importance of social norms and cultural perceptions as a set of valuable information that was practiced with a great history in a tropical country.

A late presentation of acute iatrogenic aortic dissection following percutaneous coronary intervention: A case report.

Acute iatrogenic aortic dissection following percutaneous coronary intervention is a rare but sinister cause of post-procedure morbidity and mortality. Delayed diagnosis increases the mortality significantly. We present a case of a 52-year-old male who presented with an iatrogenic aortic dissection following percutaneous coronary intervention for an inferior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Although the diagnosis was initially missed by conventional imaging for a period of 5 months, it was later diagnosed assisted by cardiac computed tomography. The patient underwent aortic repair with a Dacron graft and had an uneventful recovery. The case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and selection of appropriate imaging for this rare but serious iatrogenic sequel following percutaneous coronary intervention to minimize morbidity.

Morphometric analysis of maxillary arch dimensions using Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT).

Knowledge of morphology of the maxillary arch is important in many spacialities of dentistry. This retrospective cross-sectional study was performed using 109 randomly selected maxillary CBCT images of patients in the age range of 18-60 from the archives in Faculty of Dental Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka. EzDent software was used for measurements. Measurements related to the width were acquired from coronal sections while the measurements related to antero-posterior dimensions were performed on axial sections. A majority had an oval shaped maxillary arch (64.8%) followed by V shaped one.(29.2%). The mean height of the alveolar ridge at the upper canine position was 8.9 mm and the mean height of the alveolar ridge at the first molar level was 20.1 mm. Mann Whitney U test was used to compare measurements of variables between males and females. Difference in the height of alveolar ridge at the junction of soft and hard palate, width of the alveolar ridge at the canine, first molar and second molar and also the antero-posterior distance of the arch at the inter canine distance and junction between the hard and soft palate were statistically significant. Kruskal Wallis test was used to compare the differences between age groups. Chisquare values didnot indicate significant differences of measurements according to the age group of the participants. In conclusion, there is a significant difference in all maxillary arch parameters between the different genders. No significant differences in arch parameters were observed among the different age groups.

Areca Nut Chewing: Initiation, Addiction, and Harmful Effects Emphasizing the Barriers and Importance of Cessation.

Areca nut is a highly addictive substance with carcinogenic properties and causes many harmful effects to the human body. Alkaloids are the major chemicals found in areca nut, and their mechanism of action has been studied for several years. About 600 million people around the world use areca nut, and its usage is higher in Asian countries. Areca nut chewers get used to the habit mainly due to social influence, stress, or lack of awareness. Some studies have reported a dependence syndrome related to areca nut chewing. Even though there are many ongoing research studies regarding tobacco addiction, less concern has been given to the areca nut addiction. There are only few studies related to areca nut cessation, and even those few cessation programs are mainly designed using tobacco cessation methodology. Sociocultural influence, behavioral factors, and accessibility are the main barriers to cessation. Behavior changing interventions proved to be more effective in areca nut cessation, but recently studies on pharmacological therapies are also emerging.

Morphometric analysis of infraorbital foramen using cone beam computed tomography in a cohort of Sri Lankan adults / Análisis morfométrico del foramen infraorbitario mediante tomografía computarizada de haz cónico en una cohorte de adultos de Sri Lanka

SUMMARY: Infraorbital foramen (IOF) located bilaterally within the maxillary bone about 1 cm inferior to the infraorbital margin is a vital landmark when delivering local anesthesia and during surgical interventions in the midface region. A total of 122 infraorbital foramina in 61 cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images of 32 females and 29 males in the age range of 17 to 32 were analyzed to determine the shape, direction, presence of accessory foramina, size and the precise position of IOF in relation to the inferior orbital margin (IOM), maxillary midline (MM), lateral nasal wall (LNW), alveolus (ALV) and maxillary teeth in a group of Sri Lankan people. The IOF was oval in shape (80.3 % and 88.5 % on the right and left side, respectively) in a majority of individuals. The infraorbital foramina were located at a mean distance of 5.56 ± 3.95 and 4.91 ± 2.08 mm, below the IOM on the right and left side, 27.13 ± 2.6 and 26.99 ± 2.73 on the right and left side from the mid maxillary line, 11.96 ± 3.45 mm and 12.18 ± 3.35 from the LNW on the right and left side and 29.59 ± 3.59 and 29.65 ± 3.28 above the alveolar crest on the right and left side. There were no statistically significant differences between the left and right sides or between sexes. Majority of IOF (37.5 % and 55.9 % on the right and left side, respectively) were located in the vertical plane passing though the maxillary second premolar tooth.

RESUMEN: El foramen infraorbitario (FIO) ubicado bilateralmente dentro de la maxila, aproximadamente 1 cm inferior al margen infraorbitario, es un punto de referencia vital cuando se administra anestesia local y durante intervenciones quirúrgicas en la región media de la cara. Se analizaron un total de 122 forámenes infraorbitarios en 61 imágenes de tomografía computarizada de haz cónico (CBCT) de 32 mujeres y 29 hombres en un rango etario de 17 a 32 años para determinar la forma, dirección, presencia de forámenes accesorios, tamaño y posición precisa de FIO en relación con el mar- gen orbitario inferior (MOI), la línea mediana maxilar (MM), la pared nasal lateral (PNL), el alvéolo (ALV) y los dientes maxilares en un grupo de personas de Sri Lanka. En la mayoría de los adultos se observó que el FIO tenía forma ovalada (80,3 % y 88,5 % en el lado derecho e izquierdo, respectivamente) Los forámenes infraorbitarios se ubicaron a una distancia media de 5,56 ± 3,95 y 4,91 ± 2,08 mm, por debajo del MOI en los lados derecho e izquierdo; 27,13 ± 2,6 y 26,99 ± 2,73 en el lado derecho e izquierdo desde la línea maxilar mediana, 11,96 ± 3,45 mm y 12,18 ± 3,35 de la PNL en el lado derecho e izquierdo y 29,59 ± 3,59 y 29,65 ± 3,28 por encima de la cresta alveolar en los lados derecho e izquierdo. No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los lados izquierdo y derecho o entre sexos. La mayoría de IOF (37,5 % y 55,9 % en el lado derecho e izquierdo, respectivamente) se ubicaron en el plano vertical que pasa por el segundo premolar maxilar.

Validity of Toluidine Blue test as a diagnostic tool for high risk oral potentially malignant disorders- a multicentre study in Sri Lanka.

INTRODUCTION: - Early detection plays a major role to reduce the mortality of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Many adjunctive techniques have emerged with claims of differentiating high risk oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMDs) from benign lesions. Toluidine blue (TB) test has been established as a diagnostic adjunct in detecting high risk OPMDs and early asymptomatic OSCCs. As majority of OSCC are preceded by OPMDs, recognition of them at an early stage is important in the management of this devastating disease. METHODS: -This study was conducted as a multi-center study prospectively for a period of 2 years. Sixty five patients presented with OPMDs were selected and TB test was performed followed by a biopsy for histopathological confirmation. Criterion validity was assessed with histological diagnosis of the incisional biopsy of the OPMD as a gold standard test verses TB test results. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the TB test was 68.3% and the specificity 63.1% with a false positive rate of 36.8% and false negative rate of 31.7%. However, the predictive value of the positive test was 80%. CONCLUSION: - TB testing might be a potential adjunct diagnostic aid in identifying high risk OPMDs. Further studies with extensive sample size and different demographics are needed to validate our findings.

Morphometric analysis of nasopalatine foramen in Sri Lankan population using CBCT.

Nasopalatine canal (NPC) is an important anatomical structure present in the anterior mid maxilla. It has the synonyms of incisive canal or anterior palatine canal. The objective of this study was to identify the morphometric characteristics of the NPC in group of Sri Lankan people using Cone beam computer tomography (CBCT) and to determine normal morphological course and anatomical variations. Fifty Maxillary CBCT images of anterior maxilla, obtained from the archives of the University Dental Hospital, Peradeniya were retrospectively analyzed to determine the position of the NPC. Morphology, canal dimension of NPC and its relation to the maxilla. Majority had a single opening (48%) or 2 openings (46%). Average diameter of the canal was 3.692 mm with a range of 2-6 mm. Majority of the canals had funnel shape and were vertically curved. Average length of canal was 12.142 mm and angulations of the curvature was 115.6940. Average antero-posterior diameter at nasal fossa was 2.852 mm, at mid-palate 2.366 mm and at hard palate 3.034 mm. Our findings were different from the findings reported in the literature. This may be due to the differences in ethnicity or limited size of sample. Within the limits of this study, we conclude that the form of the NPC is variable; predominantly funnel shaped with a single or two openings and with an average diameter of 3.7 mm in Sri Lankan population. Identification of variations in the position and shape will help in clinical practice specially in introducing local anesthetic block injections during dental treatment.

Oropharyngeal epignathus with partial facial duplication: report of a rare case.

Foetal oral teratoma or epignathus is a rare benign condition that originates in the oropharyngeal region. The term 'teratoma' refers to a mass composed of poorly organized tissues derived from each of the three germ layers. Epignathus may occur when one twin ceases development during gestation and becomes vestigial to the fully formed dominant twin. The reported incidence of epignathus is approximately 1:35,000 to 1:200,000 live births. A unique case of partial facial duplication with gross histological and radiological evidence of partial duplication of the facial elements and organs is presented herein. The affected newborn baby underwent urgent surgery due to breathing difficulties. The mass was excised successfully and the infant made an uneventful recovery. The resected specimen included two developing faces, each composed of a developing mandible and maxilla with developing tooth buds. Tissues from all three germ layers were present. In such cases, the treatment option is exclusively surgical, and complete resection is curative in most cases during the early neonatal period.

Unilateral Cervical Lymphadenopathy due to Cladosporium oxysporum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a fungal infection caused by Dermatiacae group of fungi, by Cladosporium spp. The term phaeohyphomycosis was introduced by Ajello et al. in 1974 to designate infections by brown pigmented filamentous fungi. Cladosporium oxysporum is a very rare etiological agent in humans. Phaeohyphomycosis of the cervical lymph node in an immunocompetent individual is a very rare clinical entity. To the best of our knowledge we report the first case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by Cladosporium oxysporum in the absence of other systemic manifestations in a 16-year-old male.

CTCF genetic alterations in endometrial carcinoma are pro-tumorigenic.

CTCF is a haploinsufficient tumour suppressor gene with diverse normal functions in genome structure and gene regulation. However the mechanism by which CTCF haploinsufficiency contributes to cancer development is not well understood. CTCF is frequently mutated in endometrial cancer. Here we show that most CTCF mutations effectively result in CTCF haploinsufficiency through nonsense-mediated decay of mutant transcripts, or loss-of-function missense mutation. Conversely, we identified a recurrent CTCF mutation K365T, which alters a DNA binding residue, and acts as a gain-of-function mutation enhancing cell survival. CTCF genetic deletion occurs predominantly in poor prognosis serous subtype tumours, and this genetic deletion is associated with poor overall survival. In addition, we have shown that CTCF haploinsufficiency also occurs in poor prognosis endometrial clear cell carcinomas and has some association with endometrial cancer relapse and metastasis. Using shRNA targeting CTCF to recapitulate CTCF haploinsufficiency, we have identified a novel role for CTCF in the regulation of cellular polarity of endometrial glandular epithelium. Overall, we have identified two novel pro-tumorigenic roles (promoting cell survival and altering cell polarity) for genetic alterations of CTCF in endometrial cancer.

Level of awareness of oral cancer and oral potentially malignant disorders among medical and dental undergraduates.

The aim of this study was to investigate the awareness of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) and oral cancer among medical and dental students of the University of Peradeniya. A pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire was used among 1006 students. Majority were medical students (74.3%), females (60.5%), and in the second year (25.2%). About 54% of respondents had poor knowledge. Dental students had a significantly higher knowledge and female students showed greater awareness. About 90% of medical students had never examined a patient with OPMD, and 79.5% of them had not examined one with oral cancer. Medical undergraduates must receive adequate education about OPMD and cancer.

Evaluation of marine subareas of Europe using life history parameters and trophic levels of selected fish populations.

European marine waters include four regional seas that provide valuable ecosystem services to humans, including fish and other seafood. However, these marine environments are threatened by pressures from multiple anthropogenic activities and climate change. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) was adopted in 2008 to achieve good environmental status (GEnS) in European Seas by year 2020, using an Ecosystem Approach. GEnS is to be assessed using 11 descriptors and up to 56 indicators. In the present analysis two descriptors namely "commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations" and "food webs" were used to evaluate the status of subareas of FAO 27 area. Data on life history parameters, trophic levels and fisheries related data of cod, haddock, saithe, herring, plaice, whiting, hake and sprat were obtained from the FishBase online database and advisory reports of International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES). Subareas inhabited by r and K strategists were identified using interrelationships of life history parameters of commercially important fish stocks. Mean trophic level (MTL) of fish community each subarea was calculated and subareas with species of high and low trophic level were identified. The Fish in Balance (FiB) index was computed for each subarea and recent trends of FiB indices were analysed. The overall environmental status of each subarea was evaluated considering life history trends, MTL and FiB Index. The analysis showed that subareas I, II, V, VIII and IX were assessed as "good" whereas subareas III, IV, VI and VII were assessed as "poor". The subareas assessed as "good" were subject to lower environmental pressures, (less fishing pressure, less eutrophication and more water circulation), while the areas with "poor" environment experienced excessive fishing pressure, eutrophication and disturbed seabed. The evaluation was based on two qualitative descriptors ("commercially exploited fish and shellfish populations" and "food webs") is therefore more robust.

A study on Maruca vitrata infestation of Yard-long beans (Vigna unguiculata subspecies sesquipedalis).

Globally, Maruca vitrata (Geyer) is a serious yield constraint on food legumes including Yard-long bean (Vigna unguiculata subspecies sesquipedalis). However, there is a dearth of information on its damage potential, distribution and population dynamics in Yard-long beans. In the present study, the level of M. vitrata larval infestation on flowers and pods of Yard-long beans in Sri Lanka was determined with respect to three consecutive cropping seasons, Yala, Off and Maha. Results indicated that larval infestation and abundance varied with developmental stage of flowers and pods, cropping season and their combined interactive effects. Flowers of Yard-long beans were more prone to M. vitrata larval attack compared to pods. Abundance and level of infestation of M. vitrata varied with plant parts, having a ranking of flower buds (highest) > open flowers > mature pods > immature pods (lowest). Peak infestation was observed six and eight weeks after planting on flowers and pods, respectively. Among the three cropping seasons, M. vitrata infestation was found to be higher during Maha and Off seasons compared to Yala. The findings of this study contribute to the identified knowledge gap regarding the field biology of an acknowledged important pest, M. vitrata, in a previously understudied crop in Sri Lanka.

A Case Report on Oral Subcutaneous Dirofilariasis.

Dirofilariasis is an uncommon zoonotic parasitic infection affecting human. The natural hosts for this nematode are animals such as dogs, cats, foxes, jackals, and raccoons. This disease is endemic in South Eastern United States, Australia, Europe, and Central and Southern Asia. Dirofilaria immitis and D. repens are the common mosquito borne filarial nematodes that cause infection. Several species of mosquitos including Mansonia uniformis, M. annulifera, and Aedes aegypti are the potential vectors for this disease in Sri Lanka. Two rare cases of dirofilariasis presenting as facial and intraoral lumps are presented.

Rapid rule out of myocardial infarction with the use of copeptin as a biomarker for cardiac injury.

Copeptin is a non-specific marker of an endogenous stress response. A dual biomarker marker approach involving the simultaneous use of troponin and copeptin assays may assist early exclusion of acute coronary syndrome in Australian emergency departments. The utility and limitations of this approach are discussed.

Optical properties of nanostructured TiO2 thin films and their application as antireflection coatings on infrared detectors.

Oblique-angle deposited titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) nanorods have attracted much attention as good antireflection (AR) coating material due to their low n profile. Therefore, it is necessary to better understand the optical properties of these nanorods. TiO(2) nanorods grown on glass and Si substrates were characterized in the visible (0.4-0.8 µm) and infrared (2-12 µm) regions to extract their complex n profiles empirically. Application of these nanorods in multilayer AR coatings on infrared detectors is also discussed. Optimization of graded index profile of these AR coatings in the broad infrared region (2-12 µm) even at oblique angles of incidence is discussed. The effective coupling between the incoming light and multiple nanorod layers for reducing the reflection is obtained by optimizing the effect from Fabry-Perot oscillations. An optimized five-layer AR coating on GaN shows the reflectance less than 3.3% for normal incidence and 10.5% at 60° across the whole 2-8 µm spectral range.

Plasma frequency and dielectric function dependence on doping and temperature for p-type indium phosphide epitaxial films.

The optical properties of p-type InP epitaxial films with different doping concentrations are investigated by infrared absorption measurements accompanied by reflection and transmission spectra taken from 25 to 300 K. A complete dielectric function (DF) model, including intervalence band (IVB) transitions, free-carrier and lattice absorption, is used to determine the optical constants with improved accuracy in the spectral range from 2 to 35 µm. The IVB transitions by free holes among the split-off, light-hole, and heavy-hole bands are studied using the DF model under the parabolic-band approximation. A good understanding of IVB transitions and the absorption coefficient is useful for designing high operating temperature and high detectivity infrared detectors and other optoelectronic devices. In addition, refractive index values reported here are useful for optoelectronic device designing, such as implementing p-InP waveguides in semiconductor quantum cascade lasers. The temperature dependence of hole effective mass and plasma frequency is also reported.