89 research outputs found
Rethinking mental health and wellbeing interventions in disaster and conflict affected communities: case studies from Sri Lanka, Sudan and Malawi
No full textThis thesis examines the traditional knowledge and capabilities that disaster, conflict and unplanned development affected communities utilise to deal with uncertainties and dangers inherent in their lives. The key question is whether a model of individual care, core to the tradition of western disciplines, is appropriate for humanitarian assistance largely delivered to ‘non-western’ countries. The methodology uses both quantitative and qualitative techniques, and moves beyond a conventional science approach. Guided by a broader ontology and epistemology, it engages an evaluative judgement of three project based case studies in Sri Lanka, Sudan and Malawi. These evaluative judgements build on the adapted OECD/DAC criteria of relevance, efficiency, effectiveness and impact. The “lived experiences” of mental health and wellbeing for individuals amongst these communities are then further examined through their personal stories. The outcomes of this process are used to inform a discussion on mainstream interventions and to provide a basis for exploring improved practice in this field. The scope of the study presented here was limited to Sri Lanka, Sudan and Malawi. These countries were selected based on their geographical locations, nature of the disaster, conflict or development problem and most importantly access to communities through Disaster and Development Centre’s (DDC) research work with United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and Green Movement of Sri Lanka (GMSL). The researcher trained one colleague each from Sudan, Malawi and Sri Lanka to assist in the translation of Arabic, Swahili, Tamil and tribal dialects. This process was conducted by explaining the objectives of the research, refreshing basic interviewing skills, concepts of translation and addressing the research ethical framework. The findings of the study indicate that most disaster, development and conflict-affected communities are positively dealing with uncertainties and dangers in life without outside‘expert’ help. Although there are evident levels of mental health and wellbeing related issues that are visible to the outside view of a community, the inside view is that there are traditional knowledge systems, religions, cultures, attitudes and values that address uncertainty and dangers in a sophisticated though pragmatic manner. The conclusion of this research process is that suffering through danger and uncertainty is part of human experience; it is an attribute of the human condition. However, disaster and development experts, psychologists, psychiatrists and sociologists are occupied in documenting, describing, analysing and diagnosing risks, vulnerabilities, coping strategies, and post-traumatic stress. Along with the costs of murder, rape, torture, and other forms of human malice, a deeper understanding of mental health and wellbeing in adversity is little understood. This is complicated by the varying nature of events that take place and the variable ways they are experienced by individuals and communities. The onset of uncertainty and danger are sometimes sudden, like the brutal attacks in Western Darfur. At other times they take the form of a continuous reign of suffering like the failed development, disaster reduction and conflict mitigation strategies witnessed in Sri Lanka. Even when suffering is not present in such striking forms, there can be slow deterioration of communities through policies that severely disrupt the lives of people, such as experienced by refugees in Malawi. However, in the middle of the worst circumstances, communities continue to carry on with their livelihood regimes, to celebrate, and to enjoy. This is an achievement beyond everyday life. The thesis findings and conclusions point to the need for collaboration with disaster, conflict and unplanned development affected communities to retrieve their knowledge systems to improve their mental health and wellbeing. This can create new processes to deal with suffering..
Systematics and ecology of Oligodon sublineatus Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854, an endemic snake of Sri Lanka, including the designation of a lectotype
No full textThis is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. The attached file is the published version of the article.NHM Repositor
Buddhist Nationalism and Christian Evangelism: Rearticulations of Enmity and Belonging in Postwar Sri Lanka
Get PDFAbstract: Based on two years of fieldwork in Sri Lanka, this dissertation systematically examines the mutual skepticism that Buddhist nationalists and Christian evangelists express towards one another in the context of disputes over religious conversion. Focusing on the period from the mid-1990s until present, this ethnography elucidates the shifting politics of nationalist perception in Sri Lanka, and illustrates how Sinhala Buddhist populists have increasingly come to view conversion to Christianity as generating anti-national and anti-Buddhist subjects within the Sri Lankan citizenry. The author shows how the shift in the politics of identitarian perception has been contingent upon several critical events over the last decade: First, the death of a Buddhist monk, which Sinhala Buddhist populists have widely attributed to a broader Christian conspiracy to destroy Buddhism. Second, following the 2004 tsunami, massive influxes of humanitarian aid—most of which was secular, but some of which was connected to opportunistic efforts to evangelize—unsettled the lines between the interested religious charity and the disinterested secular giving. Third, the closure of 25 years of a brutal war between the Sri Lankan government forces and the ethnic minority insurgent group, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), has opened up a slew of humanitarian criticism from the international community, which Sinhala Buddhist populist activists surmise to be a product of Western, Christian, neo-colonial influences. Illuminating this renewed Sinhala Buddhist criticism that Christianity is a quintessential anti-national force, the study then moves on to analyze the nodes of Buddhist-Christian conflict, rivalry and conciliation. By building upon concepts of economic theology and political theology, the author demonstrates how religious subjectivities and religious politics are shaped by the material and ideological clash of Buddhist and Christian soteriology. Under the revised demands of ethno-religious nationalism in the post-war context, the ethnographic work also delineates the politically expedient and the theologically orthodox lines along which alliances between Buddhists and certain denominational segments of Christianities have been forged. Thus, the study highlights the internal diversity within the religious traditions and religious politics within Sri Lanka—with focus especially on Pentecostalism, Catholicism, Theravada Buddhism. Finally, the work explores the newness and innovation that is engendered within the field of mutual religious influences. Specifically, it offers an examination of how liturgy and soteriological (salvational) aspirations have shifted under the circumstances of religious rivalry, as well as under the constraints of a state that privileges particular religious forms
Analysis of Omega-3 Content in Different Cultivation Treatments of Purslane Plants (Portulaca oleracea)
Get PDFPurslane is a wild plant that is beneficial for human health. The aim of this research was to analyze the omega-3 content in various purslane cultivation treatments. This research was carried out in October-November 2022 at Wayamiga Village, East Bacan District, South Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. The tools used in this research were a scales watering can, a digital camera, a roller meter, a hose, a ruler, a rope, a counter, a plastic bucket, a plastic bag, stationery, hoe. The materials are purslane seeds, chicken manure, cow manure, label paper, and water. Population and Sample. The population in this study was purslane plants (Portulaca oleracea). At the same time, the samples were 27 purslane plant samples planted in 27 seedbeds. Research Variables: 1) The independent variable is the treatment dose of manure. 2) The dependent variable is plant growth with the parameters observed, namely vegetative growth: a) plant height and b) number of branches. Results. The single factor of chicken manure fertilization had an effect on the variable content of plant height and stem diameter of purslane at 30 HST. The single factor: Different harvest times influence the number of branches, stem diameter, and crown diameter of purslane plants which are influenced by differences in harvest time with a harvest time of 45 HST as the best treatment. The interaction between manure fertilization and different harvest times affects the variables of plant height, number of branches, stem diameter, crown diameter, and fresh weight of purslane plants. The best combination is chicken manure and a harvest time of 45 HST. The different treatments in cultivating purslane plants affect the omega-3 content, namely the differences in harvest time and the interaction between manure and differences in harvest time with the best harvest time being 35 HST and the best combination of cow manure and first harvest tim
APPLICATION OF SEVERAL TYPES OF REFUGIA AND INTERCROPPING PATTERNS OF TOPO ONIONS, CHILI AND TOMATOES ON SUBOPTIMAL DRY LAND
No full textGlobal warming can have an impact on the environment and plants. Prolonged global warming can increase drought, one of which is a lack of water, both in land and plants. Plants that experience drought can increase pest and disease attacks. For this reason, it is necessary to carry out research on the application of several types of refugia and intercroping patterns for topo onions, chilies and tomatoes on suboptimal dry land. The aim of this research is to find out how much influence the types of refugia have on top onion, chili and tomato plants in dry land. To determine the effect of the intercropping system on topo onions, chilies and tomatoes in dry land. The research was carried out in West Halmahera Regency, North Maluku Province. The design used was a split plot design with three replications. The first factor, as the main plot, is the refugea consisting of R1: Aster Flowers and R2: Gemitir Flowers (chicken taek). The second factor is a subplot consisting of I1: Topo onions, I2: Chilies and I3: Tomatoes. The morphological variables observed were plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of fruit, fruit diameter and fruit weight. Data were analyzed using SAS, if there was a significant effect, it was continued using the Duncan test at the 5% level. The results of the research showed that the use of refugia plants, both R1 and R2, significantly affected plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of fruit, fruit diameter and fruit weight compared to plants that did not use refugea treatment. Plants using the intercropping system provided by refugea plants can increase crop production and reduce pest attacks. This shows that dry land can be used as competent agricultural land
Elucidating the role of membranes in modulating the thermodynamics and kinetics of substrate binding to Thromboxane Synthase
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Item is restricted until 2015-05-28T19:21:22ZLimited Restriction Lifted for Item 44780 on 2015-05-28T10:02:01Z.Thromboxane synthase (CYP5A1) is a membrane-bound cytochrome P450. It synthesizes thromboxane A2 (TXA2) from PGH2, which is a potent mediator of platelet aggregation and vasoconstriction. TXA2 has been implicated in a wide range of pathophysiological disease conditions. Though it is a membrane protein, most of its biochemical characterization has been performed in soluble reconstituted systems. Membranes have been shown to play an important role in the structure and function of membrane proteins. This work presents the first report on membrane incorporated CYP5A1 and its biochemical characterization. To achieve this, native-like lipid bilayers called nanodiscs were used to obtain monomeric and stabilized protein. The protein was successfully expressed in a bacterial expression system and the purified protein was incorporated into nanodiscs. This system was functionally characterized using CO binding, substrate binding and activity assays. The specific activity of the protein was evaluated both in nanodiscs and detergent solubilized system and was shown to increase by 100% in Nanodiscs. In order to understand the role of the membrane in modulating the electrostatic environment of the protein, redox potentials of substrate free and substrate bound CYP5A1 in membranes was measured. This is also the first account of an endoperoxide substrate like PGH2 bound to a protein. We noticed that the redox potential of the protein in Nanodiscs were not very different from those in detergents showing lack of modulation of the active site electrostatics by the membrane environment. The kinetics of substrate analog (U44069 and U46619) and cyanide binding to CYP5A1-nanodiscs was measured using stopped flow to evaluate the conformational change in the protein in lipid bilayers of Nanodiscs. It was determined that the kinetic parameters of binding of the substrate analogs to CYP5A1-nanodisc system were different from detergent solubilized state. Moreover, the accessibility of cyanide to the active site of the protein also changed in CYP5A1-nanodiscs as compared to detergent solubilized systems. These results show that the conformation of CYP5A1 is different in Nanodiscs which may account for the increased activity of the protein in the lipid bilayers
The Demands of Inclusive Growth: Lessons from South Asia (The Mahbub Ul Haq Memorial Lecture)
Get PDFThis paper examines the concept of inclusive growth, compares and contrasts it with related concepts such as pro-poor growth and equitable growth, and analyses the recent experience of South Asia through the lens of this concept. A common experience of the region is that spells of rapid growth have been marked by accelerated poverty reduction on the one hand rising income inequality on the other. The contrasting movements in poverty and inequality render intriguing the question of whether South Asia has experienced inclusive growth or not. The reduction in poverty suggests inclusiveness, while the rise in inequality suggests otherwise. The implication is that the growth process has been inclusive in some dimensions but not in others. Closer examination shows that in each country of the region horizontal equity (between groups) has been served better than vertical equity (within groups). Thus, while the growth process has opened up plentiful opportunities for most groups of people to enjoy the benefits of growth, thereby making poverty reduction possible at an accelerated pace, in every group some individuals have failed to link up with the growth process, thereby exacerbating inequality. The problem was that within each group some individuals lacked the skills and endowments required to integrate with the growth process. Improving the ‘integrability’ of these people is an essential demand of inclusive growth.Inclusive Growth, Poverty, Inequality, South Asia
How reduced demand for children and access to family planning accelerated the fertility decline in Colombia
Get PDFBy the early 1960s, Colombia was one of the fastest growing countries in the world. With a total fertility rate of seven children per woman and a rapidly declining mortality, its population was growing at a rate that would double in size every 22 years. But from the years 1973 - 1985 the doubling time increased to 41 years. This slowdown in growth, caused by a dramatic decline in fertility, was one of the most rapid demographic transition processes in the world. The causes and mechanisms of this phenomena deserve to be carefully studied if the experience is to be replicated in other countries. A framework developed by Richard Easterlin is used in this study to analyze the fertility change in Colombia. Considering the effects of socioeconomic changes on supply of and demand for children, together with effects on regulation costs, this framework will allow us to understand the underlying causes and processes behind the fertility decline.Economic Theory&Research,Environmental Economics&Policies,Health Monitoring&Evaluation,Health Economics&Finance,Adolescent Health
A multicentric evaluation of dipstick test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Ethiopia and Spain
Get PDFAuthor Correction: A multicentric evaluation of dipstick test for serodiagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Ethiopia and Spain. Scientifc Reports. 2021; 11:3967. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-83332-8. PMID: 33574485Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is one of the leading infectious diseases affecting developing countries. Colloidal gold-based diagnostic tests are rapid tools to detect blood/serum antibodies for VL diagnosis. Lack of uniformity in the performance of these tests in different endemic regions is a hurdle in early disease diagnosis. This study is designed to validate a serum-based dipstick test in eight centres of six countries, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Ethiopia and Spain with archived and fresh sera from 1003 subjects. The dipstick detects antibodies against Leishmania donovani membrane antigens (LAg). The overall sensitivity and specificity of the test with 95% confidence intervals were found to be 97.10% and 93.44%, respectively. The test showed good sensitivity and specificity in the Indian subcontinent (>95%). In Brazil, Ethiopia, and Spain the sensitivity and specificity of the dipstick test (83.78-100% and 79.06-100%) were better as compared to the earlier reports of the performance of rK39 rapid test in these regions. Interestingly, less cross-reactivity was found with the cutaneous form of the disease in Spain, Brazil, and Sri Lanka demonstrating 91.58% specificity. This dipstick test can therefore be a useful tool for diagnosing VL from other symptomatically similar diseases and against cutaneous form of leishmaniasis.S
Balanced byzantine reliable broadcast with near-optimal communication and improved computation
Get PDFCNS-1718135 - National Science Foundation; CNS-1801564 - National Science Foundation; CNS-1931714 - National Science Foundation; CNS-1915763 - National Science Foundation; HR00112020021 - Department of Defense/DARPA; 000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000037211 - SRI Internationalhttps://eprint.iacr.org/2022/776.pdfFirst author draf
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