Browsing by Author "Jayasinghe, S."

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Approach to study the efficacy and safety of new complementary and alternative medicine formulations: Lesson during COVID-19 from Sri Lanka
(Wolters Kluwer - Medknow, 2023) Pilapitiya, S.; Jayasinghe, S.; Silva, A.; Wickremasinghe, R.; Paranagama, P.; de Silva, J.; Lekamwasam, S.; Kularatne, S.A.M.; Wanigasuriya, K.; Kaluthota, S.; Sumathipala, S.; Rathnnasooriya, C.; Siribaddana, S.
COVID-19 affected Sri Lanka from early 2020, a time of considerable ignorance accompanied by wide media coverage of a devastating epidemic in Italy and Europe. Many were attracted to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) or traditional medicine (TM) in this desperate situation. Several preparations were claimed to be effective against COVID-19 globally. Dammika Bandara Syrup© was one such preparation promoted for preventing and treating SARS-CoV-2 infection. It was based on bees' honey, pericarp and mace of Myristica fragrans (nutmeg), the seed of Foeniculum vulgare and fresh rhizome of Zingiber officinale, all believed to have anti-viral properties. Following an unpublished clinical study claiming efficacy, Dammika Bandara Syrup© gained wide media publicity and political patronage. The producer claimed of Goddess Kali revealing the formula added an anthropological, cultural, and religious complexity to the issue. The demand for the product increased rapidly as a debate raged both in public and in the parliament on utilizing such products in combating COVID-19. The Department of Ayurveda, which is statutorily responsible for regulating CAM/TM had to respond to the situation. The legislation to regulate such indigenous medicinal products was weak, and the crisis deepened as thousands converged to the production facility, defying mobility restrictions introduced to control COVID-19. This led to the Ministry of Health requesting academics to form a team and conduct a clinical trial to prove its efficacy. This paper outlines the process and issues faced during the regulatory approval for the trial in a polarized political environment. Some health professionals accused the researchers of bowing to political pressure and questioned the scientific justification for the trial. However, the team considered this as an opportunity to streamline a path for research into CAM/TM therapies in situations such as COVID-19. Several processes were identified and addressed, such as the provisional registration of CAM preparations, assessing the potential efficacy of a CAM product, confirmation of authenticity and safety, standardization and supervision of production respecting cultural identities, obtaining approval for human use, choice of comparators, and ethical issues. We believe the study has helped set standards and a benchmark for CAM and TM research in Sri Lanka.
Body weight status and implications on kidney health of the pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone in Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional study
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Gunasekara, T. D. K. S. C.; Silva, P. M. C. S. D.; Chandana, E. P. S.; Jayasinghe, S.; Herath, C.; Siribaddana, S.; Jayasundara, N.
Unhealthy bodyweight is associated with multiple clinical complications that serve as potential risk factors for kidney diseases. However, pediatric renal outcomes associated with the bodyweight status are not properly understood in many communities. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess potential associations of bodyweight status with renal health of selected pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone of Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was conducted with school students of both genders 13-16 years of age (N=326) in selected education divisions in dry zone regions where chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is not evident. Mid-stream early morning urine samples of the students were assessed for creatinine and albumin using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Quantitative assessment of urinary kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Age and gender-specific World Health Organization guidelines (LMS-based body mass index (BMI) percentiles), adopted by the family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, were used to assign the students into four BMI strata: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were used as the criteria to interpret renal function. The median levels of biomarkers, NGAL, ACR and particularly KIM-1 which is a more sensitive indicator of renal injury, showed no significant difference across the four BMI strata in both girls and boys. Also, the median levels of the three biomarkers showed no significant difference between the girls and boys within the same age stratum. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly correlate with urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and ACR in the three age strata, while very weak correlation of age was observed with BMI. Our findings did not produce plausibly strong evidence to establish a potential link between bodyweight status and altered renal function in the studied dry-zone pediatric communities. However, longitudinal studies with increased sample size and broader age range are warranted to make more accurate interpretations on potential associations of longstanding unhealthy bodyweight with pediatric renal health in Sri Lanka.
The characteristics of people with diabetes mellitus in Kalutara District
(Sri Lanka Medical Association, 2010) de Silva, A.P.; de Silva, S.H.P.; Rajapakse, L.C.; Jayasinghe, S.; Katulanda, P.; Wijeratne, C.N.; Wijeratne, S.
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetes mellitus is on the rise. Although recent studies are available data on ethnic minorities and estate sector are scarce. Aim of this study was to describe selected socio demographic aspects of people with diabetes mellitus in Kalutara District. METHODS: A cross sectional descriptive study was done. One person randomly selected from 20 randomly selected households in each gramasevaka (GS) division. There were 65 random (GS) divisions from all divisional secretariat areas. The data were collected using a pre-tested standard questionnaire. Fasting blood sugar was done to detect diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Among 1225 screened there were 205 (16.7%) diabetics. Approximately one third was newly detected. There were 107 (52.2%) females in the diabetic group. The highest proportion was observed in the 50-54 and 55-59 age groups (44, 21.5%) and the middle income group (93, 48.9%). Those who were educated from Grade 6 to 0/L contained most of the diabetic patients (75, 39.7%). The prevalence in the urban, rural and estate sectors were 25.5%, 15.5 and 9.2% respectively. The prevalence among Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were 19.0%, 9.0% and 22.4% respectively. A gradient can be observed when prevalence was graphed according to the unsatisfactory basic needs index of the GS divisions. The highest proportion (23%) was observed in the richest GS Division. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus is high in the Kautara District. A higher prevalence was observed in urban areas, among Muslims and in rich GS divisions.
Comparative desorption efficiency of Cd(II) and Pb(II) from used plasma-functionalized coconut coir biochar
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) De Alwis, B.; Rathnayake, I.; Munaweera, I.; Perera, A. D. L. C.; Jayasinghe, S.
This study investigates the desorption of Cadmium (Cd(II)) and Lead (Pb(II)) ions from used plasmafunctionalized coconut coir biochar (PBC), a process crucial for wastewater treatment. The improper disposal of used adsorbents laden with Cd(II) and Pb(II) contributes to environmental pollution, making this research significant. Coconut coir biochar (BC) was prepared using coconut coir dust via pyrolysis at 500 °C for 3 h under controlled N2 environment. The BC was subjected to atmospheric air plasma treatment (AAPT) for 30 min to produce PBC. Both BC and PBC were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), point of zero charge (pHPZC), methylene blue (MB) and iodine number, moisture and ash content. The quantitative analysis was performed using a flame atomic absorption spectrometer (FAAS). At pH 7, PBC adsorbs 130.00 mg g-1 of Cd(II) from a 250 ppm solution, and at pH 5, it adsorbs 80.97 mg g-1 of Pb(II) from a 500 ppm solution within 1 minute. In comparison, BC shows lower adsorption capacities of 96.00 mg g-1for Cd(II) and 50.01 mg g-1for Pb(II) under the same conditions. Desorption experiments were conducted using 25.0 mg of Cd(II) and Pb(II) adsorbed BC and PBC, which were shaken with HNO3 as the desorbing agent at 30 °C. The pH and contact time were optimized to evaluate the maximum desorption capacity of both BC and PBC. The maximum desorption capacity of Pb(II) for PBC was 73.80 mg g-1 within a contact time of 15-minute and for Cd(II), it was 8.91 mg g-1 under the optimum conditions of pH 1 and 1-minute contact time. For BC maximum desorption capacity of Pb(II) was 47.63 mg g-1 with a 30-minute contact time and for Cd(II), it was 8.54 mg g-1 under the pH 1 and 1-minute contact time. The desorption percentage from the adsorbed amount was 91.14% for Pb(II) and 6.85% for Cd(II) for PBC. For BC, it was 95.24% for Pb(II) and 8.83% for Cd(II). These results highlight the potential of PBC as an efficient adsorbent for the remediation of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in wastewater, demonstrating high efficiency in Pb(II) desorption but limited efficiency in Cd(II) desorption.
A Comparative Study on the Cultural Terms of the Drama The Caucassian Chalk Circle (English) by Bertolt Bretcht and Hunu Vataye Kathawa (Sinhala) by Henry Jayasena.
(The Third International Conference on Linguistics in Sri Lanka, ICLSL 2017. Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2017) Jayasinghe, S.
Translating the cultural terms is a challenging task in non technical translation. Nonetheless, if the translation is done in the very same context of the source text, the task of the translator becomes much easier. The aim of the study is to analyse the cultural issues and how language has been used in the two translations, The Caucassian Chalk Circle, the English translation by Bertolt Bretcht and “Hunu vataye katawa”, the Sinhala translation by Henry Jayasena. Data was collected from the two translations. Accordingly, it was discovered that cultural words appearing in one translation can be entirely different from those of the original. For an example, Elm tree in the English translation is translated as “Ehela gasa” in the Sinhala translation and the word “Goose” is translated as “kukula” in the Sinhala translation, which are completely different. Therefore having sufficient knowledge regarding both the cultural backgrounds are vital in order to overcome the problems encountered in translating. Thus, translating the particular source text is not easy as the cultural background, cultural terms and the characters belong to a different context of the other language. Translators encounter several complications due to both language and cultural barriers, as translation within two different cultural contexts is much harder. Therefore, the translation becomes difficult if the audience belongs to a different cultural background. Thus, the translator should handle the language carefully without doing any harm to the original text.
Dengue and leptospirosis infection during the coronavirus 2019 outbreak in Sri Lanka
(Oxford University Press, 2021) Niriella, M.A.; Ediriweera, D.S.; de Silva, A.P.; Premaratna, B.A.H.R.; Jayasinghe, S.; de Silva, H.J.
ABSTRACT: A significant decrease in dengue fever cases and a contrasting increase in leptospirosis cases were reported for the second quarter of 2020 compared with 2019 in Sri Lanka. In the absence of significant environmental and weather-related differences to account for these changes in incidence, we investigated the possibility that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on public health, social behaviour and the restrictions imposed during the lockdown influenced the fluctuations in dengue and leptospirosis infections. KEYWORDS: COVID-19; dengue fever; leptospirosis; pandemic; tropical infections.
Determination of antibacterial activity of 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid and interaction with oxacillin
(Institute of Chemistry Ceylon Adamantane House, Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka., 2020) Wickramasingha, W. G. D.; Jayasinghe, S.; Karunaratne, D. N.; Liyanapathirana, V.; Ekanayake, A.; Karunaratne, V.
Various strides have been undertaken with successful results in the treatment and cure of significant number of bacterial infections. However, many bacteria are becoming resistant to some of the prevailing drugs due to either the misuse or the prolonged use of the available antibiotics increasing the necessity for discovering new antibiotics to combat resistant microorganisms. Plants and their secondary metabolites can be considered as good sources of scaffolds to provide structurally diverse bioactive compounds as potential therapeutic agents and combination of them with standard antibiotic to obtain synergistic effect. The objective of this study was to determine the antibacterial activity of one of a lupeol type triterpenoid (6β-hydroxybetunolic acid) isolated from the bark of Schumacheria castaneifolia Vahl. which is an endemic plant to Sri Lanka and to determine the synergistic effect with Oxacillin. Antimicrobial activity of 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid was evaluated utilizing micro broth dilution assay in 96 well plates against two standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, 4 strains of clinically isolated Methicillin resistant S. aureus, standard strains of Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbepenemas producing Kebsiella pneumonia and carbepenemas non-producing Kebsiella pneumonia and four strains of clinically isolated Acinetobacter sp. Synergistic effect of the combination of 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid and Oxacillin was tested against Standard strain of S. aureus and MRSA using checker board method. Results revealed that 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid shows significant antibacterial activity only against the Gram positive strains; MIC values of S. aureus (ATCC 29213), S. aureus (ATCC 29213), E. faecalis (ATCC 29212) and four MRSA strains were 32, 16, 32, 32, 32, 32, 16 ppm respectively. However MIC value of Oxacilin against S. aureus (ATCC 29213) was 0.25 ppm. 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid has synergistic effect with Oxacillin against S. aureus and additive effect against all the tested MRSA. These results concluded that the antibacterial activity of 6β-hydroxybetunolic acid is predominantly depending on the cell wall difference of the bacteria.
Developing a natural fungicide from O/W Emulsion using essential oils and MgO nanoparticles
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) Wewalage, I. U.; Perera, A. D. L. C.; Jayasinghe, S.
For the farmers and cultivators to boost their crop yield in cultivation, preventing fungal attacks is an indispensable measure. In Sri Lanka as well as worldwide, vegetable and fruit cultivation and also ornamental plant cultivation are being extensively attacked by diseases like powdery mildew, downy mildew, grey mold, black spot disease, early blight disease, late blight diseases, etc., which are caused by fungal pathogens. Here in, a Pickering emulsion (PE) was formulated using trace amounts of magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles (NPs) and cinnamon leaf (CL) oil as a natural fungicide. MgO NPs were synthesised by the sol-gel method using magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The experimental yield of MgO NPs was achieved as 73.8%. The PE was formulated by mixing CL oil, deionised water and MgO NPs to get a homogeneous mixture. A polysorbate 80 emulsifier was used to enhance the stability of the emulsion. The most suitable emulsion system was comprised of 20% CL oil and 80% deionised water by mass percentage, and it was doped with 50 mg of MgO NPs to achieve a total mass of 50 g. To check the efficacy of the formulated PE, an antifungal susceptibility test was conducted against the fungus Aspergillus niger, a widely used model organism. Based on the inhibition zones, it was determined that the 1:10 dilution of the formulated PE exhibits the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) required to inhibit the growth of the fungus Aspergillus niger, relative to the known positive standard, Fluconazole, at a concentration of 15,000 ppm. In the field, the diluted emulsion should be sprayed on the crops once every five days to get the best results. This method provides a natural and effective solution for managing fungal infections in cultivation, potentially leading to increased crop yields and healthier plants. A unique application for sustainable agriculture is offered by the combination of MgO NPs and CL oil in PE, which act as natural antifungal agents to lessen the need for synthetic fungicides. Future directions could investigate the feasibility of commercialising emulsion, particularly aimed at identified plant fungal pathogens, by integrating economically viable essential oils
Drivers Enabling Developing Countries to Enter High-Tech Production Networks through Global Production Sharing: Evidence from Malaysia, Taiwan, and Vietnam
(Sustainability, 2023) Jayasinghe, S.; Johnson, L. W.; Udayanga, N.; Kumarapperuma, L.; Ranjitha, S.
Since the 1960s, the world has witnessed the rise of several East Asian nations as economic powerhouses. One of the main contributing factors of their success is their decision to create policies that allowed them to enter high-tech global production networks. Today, other countries are attempting to do the same by replicating the success of these East Asian nations, but they have had considerably less success. Thus, a study that investigates the drivers of developing countries entering global production networks would be of great use to policymakers in other countries. Hence, with the support of evidence from Vietnam, Malaysia, and Taiwan, this study proposes policy options (government support, science parks, tax, and other incentives, high- and semi-skilled labor, infrastructure development roadmaps, and free trade agreements) that are necessary to initiate and drive the entrance of a developing country into high-tech global production networks. Government support was identified as the main driver that determines the outcome of an effort to enter. Infrastructure development roadmap and free trade agreements were identified as optional. However, it is recommended that governments consider the two optional factors during policy formation, as they could complement the other factors.
Edifices in Dark Days: Origin, Types and Development of Oratorian Missionary Churches in Sri Lanka
(University of Kelaniya, 2015) Jayasinghe, S.
The early 19th century Catholic churches in Sri Lanka built by the Goan Oratorian missionaries mainly follow the unique Indo-Portuguese architectural concepts which were adapted to the political and economic demands of Sri Lanka as well as to certain aspects of the local climate and culture. However, the distinctive architectural model of missionary architecture of Sri Lanka has not been identified in-depth in available historical references and in modern research. First, during the Dutch occupation and the period of persecution of Catholics and later, with the advent of the British, the members of the Oratorian order have played a crucial role in the restoration and reconstruction of a territorial network of Catholic churches to its former stronghold. This study intends (i) to discuss the origin and the development process of the network of Oratorian churches in Sri Lanka and (ii) to analyse the impact of Indo-Portuguese architecture on those churches built by the Oratorian mission in the Island during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Enhancing the water solubility of curcumin by encapsulating in Carrageenan using excipients
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) Weerasinghe, N. N.; Jayathilake, N. S.; Perera, A. D. L. C.; Jayasinghe, S.
Curcumin is a polyphenolic compound known to alleviate several ailments and can be used as a drug. However, its practical application as a nutraceutical/drug is limited due to problems such as high hydrophobicity, high photosensitivity, and low bioavailability. Therefore, encapsulation of curcumin into nanoparticle (NP) carriers has been developed to increase the aqueous (physiological) solubility of curcumin. Carrageenan, a natural polysaccharide, is widely used in the formulation of nanoparticles as a controlled-release drug delivery system. In this study, a water-soluble product was developed by encapsulating curcumin in a carrageenan matrix using surfactant excipients (Tween 20 & Tween 80). Encapsulation provides protection to drugs against physiological degradation and ensures effective release at targeted sites. The role of the surfactant excipients is to help increase the water solubility and the stability of the particles. Curcumin-encapsulated carrageenan nanoparticles were prepared via the ionic gelation method, varying the mass of the curcumin, the mass of the carrageenan, and the type of excipient used. A water solubility test for NPs was conducted to evaluate the solubility of NPs in water. The average particle sizes of the NPs were obtained as 470.4 nm. The highest encapsulation efficiency of curcumin-encapsulated carrageenan NPs was calculated as 90% for NPs prepared using both excipients. In-vitro release studies were performed on the drug-loaded NPs and the results showed that the release was pH dependant and had a high release (50%-60%) of curcumin in intestinal fluid compared to free curcumin. Confirmation of successful encapsulation and characterisation of the curcumin-encapsulated carrageenan NPs was carried out using fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The stability of the NPs against photodegradation and thermal degradation was checked using the accelerated shelf life method. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of both nanoparticles prepared using both excipients displayed a nearly spherical shape. These empirical data proved that newly formulated NPs could preserve the activities of curcumin and hence could be used in functional food production to increase the nutritional value without changing texture and colour. Also, this study successfully demonstrated that even though the hydrophilic–lipophilic balance (HLB) values of tween 20 (16.7) and tween 80 (15.0) are different, both are equally effective in enhancing the solubility, encapsulation efficiency, and stability of curcumin-loaded carrageenan NPs. Future studies could investigate the scalability of the nanoparticle formulation process for industrial applications and explore the potential of combining these NPs with other bioactive compounds to develop multifunctional delivery systems.
Features of Covid-19 patients detected during community screening: A study from a rural hospital in Sri Lanka.
(The Sri Lanka Medical Association., 2020) Senanayake, A.P.; Indrakantha, D.; Sumathipala, S.; Wanigasuriya, K.; Kularathne, S.; Lekamwasam, S.; Jayasinghe, S.; de Silva, H.J.; Siribaddana, S.
ABSTRACT: We studied the clinical course and virus shedding of all patients referred to Welikanda Hospital, in one month. There were 53 positives for Covid-19 by PCR. 24 (45%) were male, with an age range of 11-94 years. Of these, 41 (77%) were asymptomatic, 9 had cough, 4 had sore throat and six had fever. Pulse, blood pressure, respiratory rate and capillary oxygen were normal in all. A proportion of them had poor prognostic factors: asthma (n=4), hypertension (n=11), age above 60 years (n=9), and diabetes (n=11). Lymphopenia was seen in 20 and elevated CRP in 14. Viral shedding continued beyond 14 days in several persons and continued in symptomatic patients for a significantly longer time than asymptomatic patients. Covid-19 was an asymptomatic or mild illness in this group of people. Several of them continued to be RT-PCR positive even after 14 days. Such cases are an important source of community spread.
Hydroxychloroquine for post-exposure prophylaxis of COVID-19 among naval personnel in Sri Lanka: study protocol for a randomized, controlled trial
(BioMed Central, 2020) Niriella, M.A.; Ediriweera, D.S.; de Silva, A.P.; Premaratna, R.; Balasooriya, P.; Duminda, K.D.; Malavige, N.G.; Wanigasuriya, K.; Lekamwasam, S.; Kularathne, S.A.; Siribaddana, S.; de Silva, H.J.; Jayasinghe, S.
BACKGROUND: The first case of a coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection in a Sri Lankan was reported on March 11, 2020. The situation in Sri Lanka changed with the rapid increase of personnel contracting COVID-19 in a naval base camp that housed more than 4000 people. This provided a unique opportunity to study the effectiveness of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), while taking stringent, non-pharmacologic, public health measures to prevent spread. Our aim is to study the effectiveness and safety of HCQ for PEP among naval personnel with exposure to COVID-19-positive patients. METHODS/DESIGN: This is a placebo-controlled, randomized, clinical trial carried out in the naval base camp and quarantine centers of the Sri Lanka Navy, Ministry of Defense, Sri Lanka. Navy personnel who are exposed to a patient with confirmed COVID-19 infection but test negative for the virus on reverse real-time polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) at recruitment will be randomized, 200 to each arm, to receive HCQ or placebo and monitored for the development of symptoms or rRT-PCR positivity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus for 14 days. DISCUSSION: This trial will provide high-quality evidence of the effectiveness and safety of HCQ as PEP for COVID-19. The study design is unique due to the circumstances of the outbreak in a confined area among otherwise healthy adults, at a relatively early stage of its spread. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Sri Lanka Clinical Trials Registry (SLCTR) SLCTR/2020/011. Registered on 04 May 2020. KEYWORDS: COVID-19; HCQ; Hydroxychloroquine; Post-exposure; Prophylaxis; Randomized controlled trial; SARS-CoV-2; Sri Lanka.
IMPACT OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE USAGE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE IT SECTOR IN WESTERN PROVINCE
(Department of Human Resource Management, Faculty of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka., 2025) Jayasinghe, S.; Weerakkody, W.A.S.
Human resource management (HRM) has received a lot of attention worldwide. Artificial intelligence (AI) integration has transformed traditional human resource practices into more efficient and strategic processes. In Sri Lanka's IT sector, particularly in the Western Province, the adoption of AI-driven solutions has become increasingly important in improving the efficiency of HRM practices. This research investigates the impact of AI usage on the efficiency of HRM practices, focusing on three key areas: AI for recruitment, AI for performance management, and AI for training and development. The research problem addressed in this study is ‘what is the impact of AI usage on the efficiency of HRM practices in the IT sector in the Western Province?’. The research aims to examine the impact of AI-driven recruitment on HRM efficiency, assess how AI-based performance management contributes to better HR outcomes, and assess the role of AI in improving training and development efficiency. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 100 HR professionals in the IT sector in Western province, and 80 responses were collected. The constructs were measured with validated instruments, ensuring reliability and accuracy. SPSS statistical software was used to analyse the collected data in order to achieve the research objectives. The findings show that AI applications for recruitment, performance management, and training and development have a highly significant impact on the efficiency of human resource management practices in the IT sector. These findings highlight AI's potential to revolutionize HR operations, allowing organizations to achieve better results and maintain a competitive advantage in an evolving business.
Is there racism in academic medical publishing?
(BMJ Publishing Group,, 2021) Niriella, M.A.; de Silva, A.P.; de Silva, H.J.; Jayasinghe, S.
No abstract available.
Issues of Subtitling Faced by the Translator and the Audience
(Department of Linguistics, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2016) Jayasinghe, S.; Egodage, W.
Subtitling is a prevalent method used to translate foreign dialogues of a movie or television program to be usually displayed at the bottom of the screen. Viewers are generally well motivated to understand what is shown and said on television and cinema. Subtitled television programs seem to constitute a rich context for foreign language acquisition and it can raise awareness and provide motivation for language learning, in both formal and informal contexts, and consequently contributes to creating an environment that encourages multilingual ism. However, language and culture are closely interrelated. In subtitling, as in all forms of interlingual transfer, this may cause problems in rendering culturespecific or language-specific elements. This research provides a descriptive analysis of the issues of subtitling based on three questions: What are the problematic circumstances faced by children, old viewers and the deaf? What are the advantages and disadvantages of this method? Which skills do viewers acquire by the use of this adaptation method? The information was collected by referring to web articles. The responses made to these questions are based on the results of this research on the issues of subtitling. The results listed down by former researches on these issues of subtitling are its fast pace of subtitles as complained by young and old viewers, continuous integration with regards to its limited processing capacity, and the issues related to the part of the screen of which the subtitles are placed. Moreover, further investigations have not been done to figure out the problems encountered by viewers, but this seems likely because they apparently do not grasp to the fullest from the information provided in the subtitles. There would be an increase in the number of co-productions of television programmes and the future introduction of digital television broadcasts with globalisation. Consequently, the use of language adaptation, specifically subtitling, will therefore undoubtedly improve gradually. Abundant opportunities would be provided for those engaged in the field as a result.
Physicians’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic: A view from Sri Lanka
(Ceylon College of Physicians, 2021) Wanigasuriya, K.; Dassanayake, S.; de Silva, S.; Jayasinghe, S.
No abstract available
Symptomatology of COVID-19 - Lessons from a meta-analysis across 13 countries
(Manipal College of Medical Science Pokhara,Nepal, 2021) Gamakaranage, C.; Hettiarachchi, D.; Ediriweera, D.; Jayasinghe, S.
Background: COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in varying clinical manifestations and mortality rates. There is no consensus on the symptomatology that would guide researchers and clinicians. Aims and Objectives: The objective was to identify symptoms and their frequencies of COVID-19 with a meta-analysis of studies from several countries. Materials and Methods: Data sources: A systematic review using PubMed and Google Scholar data sources and reference tracing were used to identify 7176 articles. Eligibility criteria: Suitable articles were selected manually with selection criteria and 14 original articles included in meta-analysis. Data abstraction and analysis: PRISMA guidelines used for data abstraction and a table was generated by feeding it with numbers and proportions of each symptom described. A meta-analysis was carried out using random effect models on each symptom separately across the studies and their prevalence rates and 95% confident intervals were calculated. Results: Selected 14 studies, either cross-sectional or cohort studies are analyzed. There were 2,660 confirmed cases of COVID-19. The majority were from China (n=2,439, 91.7%) and remainder from the Netherlands, Italy, Korea, and India and one article from Europe. There were a total of 32 symptoms identified from the meta-analysis and additional 7 symptoms were identified from reference searching. The most common symptoms were (prevalence >50%): fever (79.56%, 95% CI: 72.17–86.09%), malaise (63.3%, 95% CI: 53.1–73.0%), cough (56.7%, 95% CI: 48.6–64.6%), and cold (55.6%, 95% CI: 45.2–65.7%). Symptoms of intermediate incidence (5–49%) were anosmia, sneezing, ocular pain, fatigue, sputum production, arthralgia, tachypnea, palpitation, headache, chest tightness, shortness of breath, chills, myalgia, sore throat, anorexia, weakness, diarrhea, rhinorrhea, dizziness, nausea, altered level of consciousness, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Rare symptoms (<5%): tonsil swelling, hemoptysis, conjunctival injection, lymphadenopathy, and rash. Conclusion: We found (25/32, from meta-analysis) symptoms to be present in ≥5% of cases which could be considered as “typical” symptoms of COVID-19. The list of symptoms we identified is different from those documents released by the WHO, CDC, NHS, Chinese CDC, Institute Pasteur and Mayo Clinic. The compiled list would be useful for future researchers to document a comprehensive picture of the illness.
Synthesis of C-11 and C-12 oxidized derivatives of3β-[(α-Larabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en-28-oic acid and evaluation of their cytotoxic activity in human non-small cell lung cancer (NCI-H292) cells using Sulforhodamine B assay
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, 2020) Jayasundara, J.M.J.; Wickramasinghe, A.; Karunaratne, D.N.; Wickramaratne, N.S.; Samarakoon, S.R.; Jayasinghe, S.
The most common cancer, lung cancer is the foremost reason for cancer deaths in both males and females throughout the world. The two major categories of lung cancer which propagate differently are Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and Small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Among those NSCLCs are the most prevalent lung cancers, contributing 80% of all lung cancers. Natural products represent the bedrock of drug discovery, providing novel scaffold structures that serve as a starting point for developing novel therapeutic agents. A number of new drugs with improved therapeutic potential have been obtained from natural sources, by functional group modifications or by the synthesis of new compounds, following lead natural compounds as models. The recurrence of cancer due to the drug resistance and undesirable side effects which have limited the use of anticancer drugs, have increased the demand for novel alternative therapeutics with enhanced pharmacological activity and fewer side effects. Hence, the synthesis of natural product derived compound libraries in the discovery of novel drugs is still a key aspect of cancer therapy. 3β-[(α-L-arabinopyranosyl)oxy]olean-12-en-28-oic acid (APOA) is a triterpenoid saponin with the oleanolic acid aglycone linked to arabinopyranose sugar moiety and can be easily isolated from endemic plant extracts of genus Schumacheria. This compound exerts potent cytotoxic and apoptotic potential in human NSCLC cells (NCI-H292) with an IC50 value of 5.977 μgmL-1 while exhibiting a comparable toxicity value (IC50 = 5.702 μgmL-1 ) against normal lung (MRC-5) cells. The objective of this study was to synthesize oxidized structural analogues at C-11 and C-12 positions of the APOA and to evaluate their cytotoxic effect. Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay is used to evaluate in-vitro cytotoxic efficacy of the synthesized analogues on NCI-H292 cells and MRC-5 cells. The methylene group at the C-11 and methine group at C-12 of the ethyl ester of acetylated APOA (Ee-Ac-APOA) was oxidized to afford respective ketones and followed by deacetylation of the afforded analogues resulted in the oxidized analogues with free sugar hydroxyls (Ee-APOA). Chemical structures of the synthesized analogues were confirmed with spectroscopic data and comparative cytotoxic effects of the synthesized analogues were assessed using SRB assay against APOA. GraphPad Prism 7.00 software was used for statistical analysis and the results indicated that the oxidized analogues of Ee-APOA exhibit higher cytotoxicity against NCI-H292 cells than the oxidized derivatives of Ee-Ac-APOA while exhibiting comparable toxicity values against normal lung (MRC-5) cells. However, the α, β-unsaturated derivative of Ee-Ac-APOA exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against NCI-H292 cells while being less toxic to normal MRC-5 cells compared to the parental saponin indicating better activity. These empirical data suggest that the oxidized compounds at C-11 and C-12 of APOA could be a lead to develop promising new anticancer agents.