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Drought is a major threat to plant growth and crop productivity. Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs, CPKs) are believed to play important roles in plant responses to drought stress. Here, we report that Arabidopsis thaliana CPK8 functions in abscisic acid (ABA)- and Ca2+-mediated plant responses to drought stress. The cpk8 mutant was more sensitive to drought stress than wild-type plants, while the transgenic plants overexpressing CPK8 showed enhanced tolerance to drought stress compared with wild-type plants. ABA-, H2O2-, and Ca2+-induced stomatal closing were impaired in cpk8 mutants. Arabidopsis CATALASE3 (CAT3) was identified as a CPK8-interacting protein, confirmed by yeast two-hybrid, coimmunoprecipitation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. CPK8 can phosphorylate CAT3 at Ser-261 and regulate its activity. Both cpk8 and cat3 plants showed lower catalase activity and higher accumulation of H2O2 compared with wild-type plants. The cat3 mutant displayed a similar drought stress-sensitive phenotype as cpk8 mutant. Moreover, ABA and Ca2+ inhibition of inward K+ currents were diminished in guard cells of cpk8 and cat3 mutants. Together, these results demonstrated that CPK8 functions in ABA-mediated stomatal regulation in responses to drought stress through regulation of CAT3 activity.

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L. f. spontanea), one of the four most significant weeds, is globally well known as a problem in the rice industry. The economic and environmental problems they pose include those related to rice crop production, milling for commerce, quarantine regulations and seed trade. Weedy rice possesses a number of common features with other weeds and distinctive characteristics such as phylogenetic and morphological resemblance to cultivated rice. Weedy rice is a difficult-to-manage weed when coexists in rice ecosystems causing economic losses to rice. Currently, weedy rice has been found in nearly all the rice growing regions in Sri Lanka. The estimated rice yield losses caused by the infestation of weedy rice varied largely from 40% to 90%, depending on its density and degree of shattering in rice fields. Effective control of weedy rice must be taken into immediate consideration to secure rice production in the country. The promotion of the use of certified seed paddy without weedy rice contamination should be the immediate and key step in the implementation of efficient control mechanism followed by other integrated weed control measures to reduce the proliferation and limiting its distribution to non-contaminated areas. However, the outcome will be limited except all parties in the rice industry are unified and committed to control weedy rice. In contrary to all unfavorable impacts of weedy rice on rice production, high heritability values coupled with high genetic variability of its favorable characteristics could be considered in rice improvement programs and in broadening the rice gene pool. Journal of the University of Ruhuna 2015 3(1): 2-13

Intestinal obstruction is an interruption of the normal enteric flow in either small or large bowel. An obstruction before the ileocecal valve is considered a proximal bowel obstruction and after the valve is called a distal bowel obstruction. Both can have a mechanical or functional etiology. The management may differ depending on the cause of the bowel obstruction.

Intra-abdominal infection and sepsis may present in several forms, which may present the clinician with difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Intra-abdominal sepsis may involve any intra-abdominal organ or space due to intrinsic disease or an interruption in the continuity of the gastrointestinal tract due to trauma or surgery. Intra-abdominal infection may be categorized as complicated or uncomplicated, where complicated infection may present outside the organ involved and is associated with abscess or peritonitis and uncomplicated is only a transmural inflammation restricted to the organ itself.

Current applications of forensic entomology to post-mortem interval estimations involve ageing the insects colonizing the remains based on minimum time to reach the oldest stage of development. Immature species of blow fly develop at a predictable rate to each stage of development in their lifecycle. Unfortunately, the minimum time to reach a stage of development can be a rather unrefined estimate of tenure on the body in the sometimes lengthy time frame of the later stages. In a successful attempt to narrow this time frame, daily spectral measurements of the immature stages of Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau-Desvoidy) raised at a mean temperature of 24.6 °C were collected and the functional data analysis was completed. Functional regressions and coefficient functions were examined for model prediction and generalization. P. terraenovae is a Holarctic species as well as an early colonizer of human remains and is therefore, an excellent indicator species in North American death investigations. Spectral measurements can be used successfully to estimate the day of development in the third instar including post feeding stage. In the intra-puparial period, however, only the last day of development could be distinguished from the earlier days of the intra-puparial period. Distinguishing day within second instar is also possible for P. terraenovae raised at a mean temperature of 24.6 °C and, although not fully within the pointwise 95% confidence interval, it still accurately predicts the day. The results of this proof of concept research are promising and show a potential method for narrowing the original death estimates and offering a better overall estimate of age of P. terraenovae larvae and, therefore; estimated time since death.

WOS: 000405360700074 Drought and associated high temperatures are the major environmental stresses limiting wheat productivity in Mediterranean region. To evaluate the physiological and yield responses of durum wheat varieties under high temperature and drought stress in Mediterranean region, 15 durum wheat cultivars were grown in two consecutive years (2007-08 and 2008-09). The varieties were grown under two temperature regimes viz. normal temperature (normal sowing time) and high temperature (late sowing time), and/with two water regimes viz. rain fed (RF) and supplement irrigation (SI) conditions. Our results indicated that at rain-fed environment (water stress) caused a significant reduction in physiological parameters and grain yield. Water stress reduced 30.0 and 13.8% grain yield in 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively. Warm environment (heat stress) caused significant reductions in physiological parameters and grain yield of 54 and 32% in 2007-08 and 2008-09, respectively. Hence, delayed sowing associated with high temperature resulted in an overall decrease in grain yield. Significant differences in grain yield was found among the varieties. Based on the growth traits and economic-yield, the cool irrigated environment is most suitable followed by the environment in cool rain-fed. However, the variety Balcah-2000 and Fuatbey-2000 achieved the highest yield under cool well-watered conditions and hence best for grown under well-watered cropping systems. Grain yield was strongly correlated with SPAD value in cool environment (RF) while, negative correlation in warm conditions (RF). On the other hand, grain yield was strongly correlated with specific leaf weight (SLW) value in cool environment (RF). A negative correlation between grain yield and flag leaf nitrogen content (FLNC) was observed under warm conditions (RF). A positive and significant correlation between SLW and FLNC was recorded under warm conditions (RF). The ash content (AC) has a positive correlation with FM in cool environment (SI). A positive and significant correlation between FLNC and SPAD under cool (SI) and warm (Rf) conditions. The chlorophyll fluorescence contributes significantly to yield stability under stressed environments. Positive correlations of chlorophyll with grain yield make it possible to evaluate genotypes with high yield stability and consequently, can be used as a selection criterion to identify the environment stress tolerance of wheat genotypes. Balcah-2000 and Solen-2002 cultivars are potentially good candidates for producing good yield in the hot and dry climates in Mediterranean conditions. Scientific Research Project Center of Cukurova University Turkey [ZF2007BAP26] This work was supported by grants from Scientific Research Project Center of Cukurova University (ZF2007BAP26), Turkey.

Many countries are trying to diversify their economies. Sri Lanka is an example. Governments like Sri Lanka often lack the capabilities to lead diversification programs, however. One of these capabilities relates to targeting new sectors to promote and pursue through a diversification policy: countries know they are 'doomed to choose' sectors to target,1 but lack effective capabilities to do the targeting. This paper narrates a recent (and ongoing) initiative to establish this kind of capability in Sri Lanka. The initiative adopted a Problem Driven Iterative Adaptation (PDIA) process, where a team of Sri Lankan officials worked with Harvard Center for International Development (CID) facilitators to build capabilities over a three to four team. The paper tells the story of this process, providing documented evidence of the progress over time (and describing thinking behind the PDIA process as well). It shows how a reliable targeting mechanism can emerge in a reasonably limited period, when a committed team of public officials are effectively authorized and engaged. The paper will be of particular interest to those thinking about targeting for diversification and to those interested in processes (like PDIA) focused on building state capability and fostering policy implementation in public contexts.

Blackgram, variety BARI Mash-1 and mungbean variety BARI Mung-5 were tested under five salinity levels (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 mM NaCl) in a shade house at Agronomy research field of Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University (HSTU), Dinajpur, Bangladesh during 2014 to investigate the comparative agronomic traits of black gram and mungbean as influenced by salt stress. In both crops, salinity stress remarkably reduced the morphological characteristics viz plant height, number of branches per plant and yield attributed traits such as total pods per plant, pod length, grains per pod, 100-grain weight as well as grain yield and stover yield per plant. Under all salinity levels, black gram produced the lower reduction of number of grains per pod than mungbean. Althrough, mungbean produced the higher 100-grain weight than in black gram in control treatment but the reduction was finally more in mungbean than black gram due to salt stresses. Black gram and mungbean showed 36.71% and 49.45% reduction of 100-grain weight, respectively under 90 mM NaCl salt stress. The grain yield per plant highly hampered in mungbean (97.62% to control) while black gram showed about 86.75% reduction under high salt stress (120 mM NaCl). Blackgram may be considered more salt tolerant than mungbean byenvising all of the above parameters.

Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontanea) is a notorious weed that infests paddy fields worldwide. Understanding the morphological variation pattern of this weed in a given rice-planting region will facilitate its effective management and use. Here, 29 populations, covering nearly all the rice-cultivation regions in Sri Lanka, were characterized in a common-garden cultivation experiment that was based on 13 morphological traits. The variation level of the weedy rice populations was considerably high, as estimated by the Simpson and Shannon‐Weaver indices. An ANOVA revealed a higher level of among-population variation than withinpopulation variation. Seed shattering was the most variable trait and the seed length and width were the least variable traits, as indicated by their coefficient of variation. The results of the principal component analysis, in which the first two principal components represented 57.5% of the total variation, indicated the important role of such traits as plant height, seed weight and number of tillers and panicles in the divergence of the weedy rice populations. However, the variation was not associated with their geographical locality. Knowledge of such a morphological variation pattern provides opportunities to design strategic management methods for weedy rice control in Sri Lanka, in addition to the proper use of it as a genetic resource for rice improvement.

Highlights • Femoral herniation of transplanted ureter is a rare occurrence and has not been documented in the literature to date. • Such patients may present with transplant kidney failure due to obstructive uropathy. • Diagnosis includes physical exam, transplant kidney ultrasound or CT of abdomen and pelvis. • Treatment should include urgent repair of hernia to salvage the transplant ureter and kidney., Introduction Herniation of the ureter after kidney transplant is a rare and under documented event. Many of these herniations are due to abdominal wall defects or ureteral redundancy. After an extensive review of available literature, there has not been a reported case of a femoral herniation of ureter after kidney transplant. We report a case of late allograft renal transplant failure due to ureteral obstruction secondary to femoral herniation of the ureter. Case presentation We report a case of 64 year old male with a history of kidney transplant, who was found to have an inguinal bulge. He was diagnosed with a femoral hernia containing transplant ureter using transplant kidney ultrasound and CT of the abdomen and pelvis. Subsequently he developed transplant kidney failure due to obstructive uropathy from the femoral hernia. The patient underwent a femoral hernia repair with biologic mesh. Compromised ureter was excised and a neoureterocystostomy was created. Post operatively his creatinine returned to baseline. Discussion In our literature search there are two types of inguinal ureteral hernias described. Paraperitoneal, which makes up the majority of the cases, and extraperitoneal. There are no classifications for ureteral femoral hernias. We may extract these definitions to femoral hernias, as evidenced by our case where we encountered a paraperitoneal femoral hernia containing transplant kidney ureter. Conclusion To the best of our knowledge this is the first reported case of a femoral ureter hernia. Due to its rarity in the literature, an understanding of management is critical to patient outcome.

The nature and concentration of cationic species in the electrolyte exert a profound influence on the efficiency of nanocrystalline dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). A series of DSSCs based on gel electrolytes containing five alkali iodide salts (LiI, NaI, KI, RbI and CsI) and polyacrylonitrile with plasticizers were fabricated and studied, in order to investigate the dependence of solar cell performance on the cation size. The ionic conductivity of electrolytes with relatively large cations, K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+), was higher and essentially constant, while for the electrolytes containing the two smaller cations, Na(+) and Li(+), the conductivity values were lower. The temperature dependence of conductivity in this series appears to follow the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher equation. The sample containing the smallest cation shows the lowest conductivity and the highest activation energy of ∼36.5 meV, while K(+), Rb(+) and Cs(+) containing samples show an activation energy of ∼30.5 meV. DSSCs based on the gel electrolyte and a TiO2 double layer with the N719 dye exhibited an enhancement in the open circuit voltage with increasing cation size. This can be attributed to the decrease in the recombination rate of electrons and to the conduction band shift resulting from cation adsorption by TiO2. The maximum efficiency value, 3.48%, was obtained for the CsI containing cell. The efficiencies shown in this study are lower compared to values reported in the literature, and this can be attributed to the use of a single salt and the absence of other additives, since the focus of the present study was to analyze the cation effect. The highest short circuit current density of 9.43 mA cm(-2) was shown by the RbI containing cell. The enhancement of the solar cell performance with increasing size of the cation is discussed in terms of the effect of the cations on the TiO2 anode and ion transport in the electrolyte. In liquid electrolyte based DSSCs, the short circuit current density has been reported to decrease with the increasing size of the cation. However, in this work, it follows an opposite trend highlighting a major difference between liquid and quasi-solid electrolytes on the solar cell performance.

Sri Lanka is a tropical country equally having rich diversity of arthropods including natural enemies, economic pests, and indigenous plants majority with unique chemical properties. Because of the substantial losses due to pests and diseases, plant protection remains an essential issue in agriculture production in the country. There is increasing concern over synthetic pesticide usage due to their adverse long-term effects on human health, environment, and natural pest management systems. As an eco-friendly alternate, the importance of biopesticides in raising agricultural productivity is well recognized in Sri Lanka. Biopesticides are quiet popular among farming community due to their unique features, viz., safety, limited host range or target specificity, the absence of toxic residues, eco-friendly nature, and ease of application. Biopesticides have diverse modes of action and hence resistance development in pests is slower/negligible. Currently, plant powders, nonvolatile and volatile oils, and plant crude extracts are commercially available for management of insect pests and nematodes. Further, several bacterial and fungal biopesticides have shown promising results for the efficient management of plant pathogens in Sri Lanka.

Forty genotypes of mungbean were evaluated to compare the genetic divergence and association among agronomic and yield characteristics. Analysis of variance indicated highly significant (p 60 %) along with high genetic advance was observed for total yield per plant, pod length, number of seeds per pod and plant height, indicating that these characteristics would be best for phenotypic selection. A significant negative correlation was observed between days to flowering and total yield per plant. Positive correlations were observed between plant height, pod length and 1000 seed weight with total yield per plant. Multivariate analysis showed that the first three principal components cumulatively accounted for 69.77 % of the total variation. The present findings could be useful in selecting superior genotypes in mungbean breeding programmes.

Hyperspectral remote sensing is an innovative technology with applications in many sciences and is a non-destructive method that may offer more precise aging within development stages. Hyperspectral reflectance measurements from the anterior, midsection, and posterior of Lucilia sericata (Meigen) larvae and pupae were conducted daily from samples of the developing insects beginning at second instar. Only midsection measurements were conducted on second instar larvae due to their size, to ensure that the measurement was not of reflective surroundings. Once measured, all insects were washed with deionized water, blotted with filter paper, and re-measured. Daily age prediction during the post-feeding stage was not impacted by the unwashed insect measurements and was best predicted based on posterior measurements. The second and third instar larvae, which move about their food source, had different contributing coefficients to the functional regression model for the hyperspectral measurements of the washed compared with unwashed specimens. Although washing did not affect the daily prediction within these stages, it is still encouraged in order to decrease the effect of food source on spectral reflectance. Days within the intra-puparial period were best predicted based on anterior measurements and were not well distinguished from one another in the first few days based on midsection and posterior measurements.

Weeds are the most important biological restraint in rice ecosystems which cause to reduceyield quantitatively and qualitatively. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa L. f. spontanea) is one of themost widespread and problematic weed, cause high yield losses when co-occurs with ricecrop. Weedy rice is taxonomically classified as the same species as cultivated rice (O. sativa),but is strongly characterized by its seed shattering and dormancy, which assist to successfullycompete with rice crop and other weeds. The competition between crops and weeds is often affected by many factors, includingcultivation methods and type of crop. The control of weedy rice has been difficult due to itsmorphological similarity to cultivated rice. Therefore the possible approach is use of preeminent characters for rice crop improvement in breeding programs. This study was carriedout in an experimental garden to evaluate the weed-crop competition under differentcultivation conditions at seedling stage. Weedy rice and improved rice (variety At 362) wereused under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replicates. 14-day old riceseedlings were used for transplanting plots. The eight patterns of planting methods (T1-Improved rice transplanted with weeds, T2-Improved rice transplanted without weeds, T3-Improved rice direct seeded with weeds, T4-Improved rice direct seeded without weeds, T5-Weedy rice transplanted with weeds, T6-Weedy rice transplanted without weeds, T7-Weedy rice direct seeded with weeds, T8-Weedyrice direct seeded without weeds.) were used as treatments. Plant height and number of tillerswere measured at seedling stage. The results of ANOVA revealed that the planting pattern, block effect and their interactionwere significantly (p

Increased infestation of weedy rice-a noxious agricultural pest has caused significant reduction of grain yield of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa) worldwide. Knowledge on genetic diversity and structure of weedy rice populations will facilitate the design of effective methods to control this weed by tracing its origins and dispersal patterns in a given region. To generate such knowledge, we studied genetic diversity and structure of 21 weedy rice populations from Sri Lanka based on 23 selected microsatellite (SSR) loci. Results indicated an exceptionally high level of within-population genetic diversity (He = 0.62) and limited among-population differentiation (Fst = 0.17) for this predominantly self-pollinating weed. UPGMA analysis showed a loose genetic affinity of the weedy rice populations in relation to their geographical locations, and no obvious genetic structure among populations across the country. This phenomenon was associated with the considerable amount of gene flow between populations. Limited admixture from STRUCTURE analyses suggested a very low level of hybridization (pollen-mediated gene flow) between populations. The abundant within-population genetic diversity coupled with limited population genetic structure and differentiation is likely caused by the considerable seed-mediated gene flow of weedy rice along with the long-distance exchange of farmer-saved rice seeds between weedy-rice contaminated regions in Sri Lanka. In addition to other effective weed management strategies, promoting the application of certified rice seeds with no weedy rice contamination should be the immediate action to significantly reduce the proliferation and infestation of this weed in rice ecosystems in countries with similar rice farming styles as in Sri Lanka.

Dye sensitized solar cells offer a low cost alternative technology for solar energy harvesting. However, there are long term stability issues connected with these cells due to the liquid electrolytes normally used. Gel or solid polymer electrolytes which do not contain volatile solvents have been used in this investigation in order to alleviate these problems. Two types of solar cells were assembled using a double layered TiO2 film sensitized with two types of dye sensitizers, namely N719 (Ruthenizer 535-bisTBA) and N3 (Ruthenizer 535) in order to compare their performance. Quasi-solid-state electrolytes based on PAN (polyacrylonitrile) as the host polymer and CsI as the iodide salt were prepared by incorporating ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) as plasticizers. The conductivity of the electrolyte was further improved by adding tetrapropylammonium iodide (Pr4NI), 1-methyl 3-propyl imidazolium iodide (MPII) and 4-tert-butylpyridine (4TBP). The incorporation of these additives resulted in 17% enhancement in ionic conductivity. This improved electrolyte was used to fabricate the solar cells with N3 and N719 dyes. The efficiency of the N3 dye based solar cell was 3.85% whereas the efficiency of the N719 dye based solar cell was 4.14% representing a significant efficiency enhancement by 7.53% by the N719 dye. In addition, due to additives the solar cell efficiency has enhanced by 19% compared to the solar cell without any additive.

Weedy rice is becoming common in most rice growing areas in Sri Lanka. It is variable in almost all the vegetative and reproductive characteristics and tends to have low tillering ability, easy shattering, long awns and higher dormancy in some variants. In addition, weedy rice may contain important genes which can be incorporated into the cultivated varieties. In order to ascertain the diversity for its possible utilization in rice crop improvement, morphological characters of weedy rice accessions were observed in three locations in Ampara district. Characters were observed from 50 individuals with at least 5m distance between plants. A significant difference was observed in weedy rice plants observed at Thottama for plant height while at Lahugala significant differences were observed for tiller number (3.22) and number of panicles (2.54). 58% of observed panicles had awns and purple colored long awns were the most prominent. In addition, white colored long awns, purple colored medium sized awns and white colored medium sized awns were present. The plants observed at Thottama showed higher number of panicles from relatively shorter plants. The existence of great diversity in the morphology indicates the presence of other related agronomic, physiological aspects for their selection and adoption.

Brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens Stal is one of the most serious rice pests in Sri Lanka. The study evaluated the nature of BPH resistance in seventeen O. nivara (WRAC 01, 02, 04, 07, 11, 12, 14, 19, 21, 22, 24, 25, 35, 41, 46, 62, and 9864) accessions collected from different locations in Sri Lanka using standard seed box screening test. Ptb 33(resistant), Bg 379/2, Bg 300(moderately resistant) and Bg 380 (susceptible) were used as check varieties. BPH culture maintained at the Rice Research and Development Institute, Batalagoda on Bg 380 was used for the test. BPH damage was scored (0-to-9 scale) according to the standard evaluation system for rice, developed by International Rice Research Institute. According to the results WRAC 04, 41, 25 and Ptb 33 recorded as resistant (score 0-3), WRAC 46, 35, 24, 22, 21, 14, 7, 2,1, 9864 and Bg 379/2 as resistant to moderately resistant (score 3.1-4.0), WRAC 11, 12 and Bg 300 as moderately resistant (score 4.1-5.0), WRAC 19 and 62 as moderately resistant to moderately susceptible (score 5.1-6.0), while no checked accessions were recorded as susceptible to the BPH indicating potential of using Oryza nivara as a source of BPH resistance.

Plant calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) may function as calcium sensors and play important roles in the regulation of plant growth and development and in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) genome encodes 34 CDPKs, and most of them have not been functionally characterized. Here, we report the functional characterization of CPK10 in Arabidopsis response to drought stress. The cpk10 mutant, a T-DNA insertion mutant for the Arabidopsis CPK10 gene, showed a much more sensitive phenotype to drought stress compared with wild-type plants, while the CPK10 overexpression lines displayed enhanced tolerance to drought stress. Induction of stomatal closure and inhibition of stomatal opening by abscisic acid (ABA) and Ca(2+) were impaired in the cpk10 mutants. Using yeast two-hybrid methods, a heat shock protein, HSP1, was identified as a CPK10-interacting protein. The interaction between CPK10 and HSP1 was further confirmed by pull-down and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. The HSP1 knockout mutant (hsp1) plants showed a similar sensitive phenotype under drought stress as the cpk10 mutant plants and were similarly less sensitive to ABA and Ca(2+) in regulation of stomatal movements. Electrophysiological experiments showed that ABA and Ca(2+) inhibition of the inward K(+) currents in stomatal guard cells were impaired in the cpk10 and hsp1 mutants. All presented data demonstrate that CPK10, possibly by interacting with HSP1, plays important roles in ABA- and Ca(2+)-mediated regulation of stomatal movements.