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We report on new measurements for elastic electron scattering from pyrazine. Absolute differential cross sections (DCSs) at seven discrete energies in the range 3-50 eV, and over the scattered electron angular range 10°-129°, were determined using a crossed electron-molecular beam spectrometer in conjunction with the well-established relative flow technique. Integral elastic cross sections were subsequently derived from those DCS data at each energy. Where possible comparison between the present results and those from sophisticated Schwinger multichannel and R-matrix computations is made, with generally quite good quantitative accord being found. Finally, in order to better study some of the rich resonance structure predicted by theory, results from elastic electron excitation functions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Dengue virus (DENV) infection has been endemic to Sri Lanka and reliable estimates of burden of disease are limited. Such information is crucial for prevention and control of the disease and for vaccine introduction. We are conducting a community based enhanced passive surveillance study to estimate burden of DENV infection and disease. The study is based on a one year follow-up cohort of 800 randomly-selected children aged <12 years in a municipality ward of Colombo, Sri Lanka. The baseline blood samples tested by IgG capture ELISA indicate that the flavivirus seroprevalence in the cohort is 52% (ranges from 14% below 1 year to 72% at 12 years). These results suggest endemic transmission of DENV among children in Colombo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present results of measurements and calculations of elastic electron scattering from 1,4-dioxane in the energy range of 0-1000 eV. Absolute differential and integral elastic cross sections have been measured using a crossed electron-molecule beam spectrometer and the relative flow technique, at four energies in the 10-30 eV range and for scattered electrons in the angular range 20°-129°. The measured cross sections are compared with results from R-matrix computations, at the static exchange plus polarization level, calculated at energies between 0-20 eV, and with calculations employing the independent atom model with the screening corrected additivity rule (IAM-SCAR). Those latter computations were conducted at energies between 1 and 1000 eV. Agreement between the measured and R-matrix cross sections was typically found to be good at all common energies, whereas agreement with IAM-SCAR was satisfactory only at 30 eV. To the best of our knowledge, the present results are the first absolute data to be published in the literature for this scattering system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of cases and severity of disease associated with dengue infection in Sri Lanka has been increasing since 1989, when the first epidemic of dengue hemorrhagic fever was recorded. We identified a new dengue virus 1 strain circulating in Sri Lanka that coincided with the 2009 dengue epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Women with a history of hypertensive disorders are known to be at greater risk of developing subsequent hypertension and cardiovascular disease in Caucasians. Deaths due to cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in South Asia. We undertook this study to look at the association between hypertension in pregnancy and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in later life in a Sri Lankan population that represents the south Asian community. Methodolgy This study was part of a large community-based investigation on non-communicable diseases, the Ragama Health Study (RHS) conducted in 2014. The study was conducted in the Ragama Medical Officer of Health (MOH) administrative area from January to September 2014. The householders list of each GN division was used for stratified sampling and the population aged 35–64 years was identified. 986 consenting women who had experienced giving birth to at least one child were recruited to this study. Results Women with a history of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy had a significantly higher risk (OR 3.31) of having hypertension and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.75) compared to women without such a history. There was also a 1.7-fold risk of having type 2 diabetes mellitus, 2.82-fold risk of having a stroke and a 2-fold risk of having a diagnosis of ischeamic heart disease. Conclusions This is the first study that has looked at the association between hypertensive disorders in pregnancy and development of cardiovascular risk factors in a South Asian population. A history of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy was found to greatly increase this risk. Women with a history of hypertensive disorder need to be regularly monitored following pregnancy, in order to detect the emergence and modify cardiovascular risk factors in a timely manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]