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This study investigates the main factors influencing carbon emissions from Four Wheel Passenger Vehicles (FWPVs) in Sri Lanka, an emerging economy where the transport sector contributes 12 % of total emissions. Pioneering a new methodology, we integrate System Dynamics (SD) modeling and decomposition analysis to comprehensively map the factors affecting fuel efficiency for the first time in Sri Lanka. Employing the additive Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI I), we analyze a comprehensive time series dataset covering all petrol, diesel, and electric-powered FWPVs registered between 2015 and 2019. Our study delves into significant drivers of CO2 emissions, including population dynamics, vehicle ownership trends, annual travel distances, fuel types, engine capacities, and technological advancements. Additionally, we quantify the impact of fiscal policies on FWPV emissions, revealing a surge in emissions in 2018 and 2019 driven by consumer preferences for high-capacity vehicles. Our findings offer critical insights for crafting effective policies to promote energy-efficient vehicles and mitigate carbon emissions in the transport sector, emphasizing the importance of targeted fiscal measures. By imposing taxes on high-capacity vehicles and incentivizing the adoption of low-emission options through tax variations and renewable energy incentives, policymakers can influence consumer behavior and drive significant emission reductions. Our study underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and evaluation of fiscal policies to refine existing measures and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable, low-carbon transportation sector in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s transport sector strives for efficient and effective mobility solutions in terms of the quality and quantity of services provided. However, the modal share of public transport continues to decrease with increasing personal incomes, resulting in the deterioration in service quality of all transport systems in the Western Province. This occurs despite significant government investments in expressways and plans for rapid transit projects. The recent economic crisis in Sri Lanka and the consequent fuel crisis have forced the government to limit investment on transport projects that would be sustainable and bring maximum return on investment. Such selection requires careful consideration of appropriate transport policies and plans. Based on a critical review of existing transport policies and programs, this paper proposes selecting policy-based projects found to be best suited to the Western Province. Several proposals to improve the service quality in different transport modes through better regulation integration of IT and other modern technologies are discussed in terms of selecting policy parameters.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate genetic and non-genetic factors influencing semen production potential of Gir bulls. Materials and Methods: Data on semen quantity (n=6911) and quality (n=466) available from January 2011 to December 2018 at BAIF's frozen semen station, Jind, Haryana, India, were utilized for the study. Factors, namely, season of collection, age at collection, and bull (random effect) were studied for their effect on quantitative and qualitative semen traits. Least square means for the traits were obtained using a general linear model. The effect of age within bull for repeatable traits was analyzed using a longitudinal model with age as the control variable. Multivariate analysis using mixed repeatability model equation was utilized to estimate bull effect correlation (genetic + permanent environmental correlation), phenotypic correlations, and repeatability. Results: The overall least square means of ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperms, initial and post-thaw motility, hypo-osmotic swelling test, and acrosome integrity of frozen semen were 6.62±0.03 ml, 1.22±0.01 109/ml, 8.09±0.05 109/ml ejaculate, 75.78±0.001%, 55.92±0.0001%, 55.13±0.005%, and 71.08±0.001%, respectively. The season of the collection showed a significant effect on volume, concentration, total sperm, and initial motility. The performance of bulls was superior in summer season, followed by winter and monsoon. Increase in semen attributes during summer season was due to the effect of lower temperature on sensitive stages of spermatogenesis. Age at collection had a significant effect on all semen traits. Volume and total sperm count showed increasing trend while concentration showed a decreasing trend with an increase in age. Motility and quality traits did not show any particular pattern. Individual bulls showed differences in all the semen performance traits with age. The repeatability of the traits ranged from 0.04 (HOST) to 0.58 (acrosome integrity). Bull effect correlation ranged from –0.73 (initial motility and acrosome integrity) to 0.93 (HOST and acrosome integrity). Conclusion: Individual bulls showed variation in traits measured over age. The result of the study could be utilized in suggesting suitable management plans to achieve the desired profit by improving semen quality in Gir bulls.

The primary goal of this work is to evaluate how BN and WC particles affect the mechanical properties and damage development behaviours of aluminum alloy-2048. Heat treatments for composites are also being investigated to improve mechanical properties. Tensile experiments reveal that BN particle reinforcement outperforms WC reinforcement in strength and flexibility for composites. T4 treatment, rather than traditional peak-aging treatment, is recommended for the composites (T6). The particle size distribution in 10v% WC/Al-2048 is the best in the three composites with the largest size of 16 µm and 80% of particles are from 6 to 10 µm. Tensile tests illustrate that 15v% BN/Al-2048 composite demonstrates a 9 and 14% rise in its ultimate tensile stress and 28 and 120% increases in its elongation. T4 heat treatment with an additional 0.6 percent prestrain can produce composites with the same UTS and 0.2 percent proof stress as T6 treatment, but the ultimate elongation below T4 treatment is over 100 percent more than that under T6 treatment. To make sense of the test results, an observation of the damage evolution behaviors of the reinforcing particles provides a concept that the composites’ strength is primarily determined by the balance between the reinforcing particles sharing the load and creating strain discontinuity in the matrix. The fraction of broken particles in the 20v% WC/Al-2048 composite as a function of strain is much higher than that in the 15v% BN/Al-2048 composite. Because of their tolerance for substantial strain at the interface, maximum K1c, and moderate thermal extension, BN elements can share a lot of loads and provide more excellent reinforcement than WC particles in terms of composite strength and flexibility.

Aim: A trial was conducted to assess the influence of parasitic load on the lambs reared under the intensive system, continuous grazing, and rotational grazing systems of management. Materials and Methods: A total of thirty numbers of the undetermined breed of ewe lambs around 4-5 months of age were randomly selected and allotted to three treatment groups: T1 (intensive system - control), T2 (rotational grazing), and T3 (continuous grazing). The T1 group lambs were raised under a stall-fed system of management, the T2 group lambs were grazed under rotational grazing strategy in four paddocks of plot-A, while the T3 group lambs were continuously grazed in plot-B. Results: At the end of the study, there was a highly significant difference (p=0.01) in the fortnightly strongyle egg count per gram (EPG) of feces among the lambs pertaining to the three treatment groups; the lambs in T3 had a higher strongyle EPG compared to T2 lambs. With regard to the overall reduction in EPG from the initial count, lambs under rotational grazing showed the maximum decrease of 54.52% compared to lambs under T3 (continuous grazing). There was a strong positive correlation noticed between the mean temperature of the day at each fortnight and the subsequent EPG at each fortnight with R2=0.87. There was a strong positive correlation noticed between mean FAMACHA® scores and the EPG with R2=0.84, R2=0.83, and R2=0.83 for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Conclusion: The grazing management with pasture rotation should be considered as a viable option for sustainable parasitic control in case of grazing-dependent livestock husbandry in India.

Aim: To identify the suitable roofing pattern for dairy cattle in North East Zone of Tamil Nadu, India, based on micro climatic conditions. Materials and Methods: Initially, survey was conducted to identify and categorize the major housing patterns existing in the region for further detailed investigation. In total, 30 farmers/farms consisting of five housing types with six replicates were selected. Temperature and temperature humidity index (THI) were recorded using the maximum-minimum thermometer and digital thermo-hygrometers. The study was conducted for 1 year covering four seasons namely South West monsoon (June-August), North East monsoon (September-November), cold season (December-February), and summer season (April-May). The data were statistically analyzed using statistical package SPSS 17. Results: Animal shelters with cement sheets recorded the highest temperature (26.71±1.13°C) and THI (77.23±1.76) at 8.00 am, whereas the lowest temperature (24.83±1.17°C) and THI (74.54±1.72) were recorded in the thatched shed. There was significant difference (p

This study was conducted to assess the influence of chromium on the carcass traits in crossbred (Large White Yorkshire X Landrace) pigs fed with swill feeding for a period of 5 months. Early-weaned crossbred piglets (n=24) were selected for this study, and the piglets were randomly divided into three equal groups; Group I, II, and III. The piglets were reared by following standard health coverage protocols. The feeds of Group I and II were supplemented with chromium in the form of chromium tripicolinate at 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg of swill feed respectively, and Group III was kept as control. Carcass weight, carcass length, and bone percentage showed no significant difference among the three groups. However, better dressing percentage was observed in Group I (p

Mrs. M.S.R is a 49 year old Indian female patient who admitted to the general medicine with diabetic ketoacidosis and abdominal pain for 4 days. She had no previous significant history of urinary tract infection and DKA. This clinical case was diagnosed as emphysematous Pyelonephritis which is defined as a rare necrotizing infection of kidney characterized by the presence of gas with in or around the renal parenchyma or perinephric tissues. This case is important because emphysematous Pyelonephritis presenting with diabetic Ketoacidosis as a complication of diabetes mellitus is rare. Keywords: Diabetic ketoacidosis, Emphysematous pyelonephritis

The present research is a challenge to design, optimized and evaluates mesalamine loaded burst release pH dependent coated pellets for possible ileo-cecal targeting to treat effectively Crohn’s disease. The novelty of this formulation is to release drug specifically and instantly in ileo-cecal region where the chances of Crohn’s disease is more frequent, without being released in upper gastrointestinal tract. Preliminary experimental batches are studied for micromeritic properties and in-vitro drug release. Formulation showed desirable lag time of 5h and dissolution profile were further optimized by applying 32 full factorial design to study the effect of extent of coating (% w/w) Eudragit S100 and croscarmellose sodium over drug layered pellets. The regression equation generated for Q300 (lag time of 5h) = +5.72-31.97*A+0.82*B-0.49*A*B+26.36*A2-0.15*B2 and for Q390 (90% of drug release at pH7.2 within 90 minutes after lag time) = +84.63- 40.09*A+4.62*B. The drug release data of optimized formulation were close to that predicted by the model. Various kinetic models were applied to the all optimized batches. In vivo evaluation of optimized formulations was performed to assess macroscopic, microscopic and biochemical parameters in rats and performed. The present study demonstrates that the mesalamine enteric coated pellets successfully targeted at ileo-cecal region.

Aim:To assess the reproductive performance and managemental advantages of Artificial Insemination of swine.Materials and Methods:Large White Yorkshire sows were grouped into two batches (10 each) for AI and natural mating. AI group was given two inseminations with semen extended with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS,3 x 109 spermatozoa per dose), at standing heat. Similarly, for natural mating group, triple mating was followed. The reproductive performance was studied after maintaining the sows under optimal managemental conditions.Results: The results indicated that AI and natural mating practices showed 100% conception rate. The litter size of AI group was 8.36±0.28 and that of the natural mating group was 10.6±0.64, that varied with high significance. The still birth rate was 0.7±0.26, which was significantly higher in natural mating group. The pre-weaning mortality was 4.34% and 7.5% for AI group and natural mating group respectively. The time consumed during mating per sow also varied highly significantly which was 11.46±0.47 minutes and 51.2±2.08 minutes for the AI group and natural mating group respectively. Conclusion: It was found that AI was found to be time and labor saving. The reduced litter size in AI group could be improved by ensuring that inseminations occur at an optimum time resulting in a high farrowing rate and litter size. AI can be successfully introduced in field conditions with some fine tuning.

AADHAR is an Indian Government Project to provide unique identification to each Citizen of India. The objective of the project is to collect all the personal details and the biometric traits from each individual. Biometric traits such as iris, face and fingerprint are being collected for authentication. All the information will be stored in a centralized data repository. Considering about the storage requirement for the biometric data of the entire population of India, approximately 20,218 TB of storage space will be required. Since 10 fingerprint data are stored, fingerprint details will take most of the space. In this paper, the storage requirement for the biometric data in the AADHAR project is analyzed and a method is proposed to reduce the storage by cropping the original biometric image before storing. This method can reduce the storage space of the biometric data drastically. All the measurements given in this paper are approximate only.

The object of this study was to formulate new, cost effective anti-microbial combination for multidrug resistant diseases based on the synergistic activity of oxytetracycline with methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) a medicinal plant common in South India. The MIC of methanolic extracts in combination with oxytetracycline using 12 different both gram positive and gram negative bacteria was found to be around (62.5 µg/ml to 1000 µg/ml). The synergistic activity was verified using Kirby and Bauer techniques. 83.3% shows synergistic activity against all 12 different bacteria both gram positive and gram negative species. The highest synergism rate was attained against Shigella boydii (ATCC8700).

A study was conducted to assess and compare growth performance of Landrace and Large White Yorkshire weaned pigs under maritime monsoon climate. Body weights and body measurements were recorded at fortnight intervals. The final body weight at 180 days of age was significantly (P

A reverse phase HPLC method is described for the determination of rosiglitazone and gliclazide in tablet dosage form. Chromatography was carried on Phenomenix Gemini C18 column using in mixture of ammonium phosphate buffer, Acetonitrile and methanol in the ratio 50: 35: 15 v/v as mobile phase at a flow rate 1 mL min-1 and the effluent was monitored at 254 nm. The retention time for rosiglitazone was 3.74 and gliclazide 7.84 min. The limit of detection for rosiglitazone was 4.07μg/mL and gliclazide 1.19 μg/mL. The LOQ obtained for rosiglitazone was 12.33 μg/mL and 3.612 μg/mL. The percentage assay for rosiglitazone was 99.92% and gliclazide was 99.82%. The method was validated for accuracy precision and system suitability. The proposed method was fast accurate and precise so it can be used for regular quality control of the drug.

A simple, sensitive, highly accurate UV spectrophotometric method has been developed for the determination of valacyclovir in bulk and tablet dosage form. Solution of valacyclovir in 0.1N HCl shows maximum absorbance at 255 nm. Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 5-25 mcg mL-1 with 1.0910x104 mol-1 cm-1, the slope, intercept, correlation coefficient, detection and quantitation limits were also calculated. The proposed method has been applied successfully for the analysis of the drug in pure and in its tablets dosage forms. Result of percentage recovery and placebo interference shows that the method was not affected by the presence of common excipients. The percentages assay of valacyclovir HCl in tablet was 99.82%. The method was validated by determining its sensitivity, accuracy and precision which proves suitability of the developed method for the routine estimation of valacyclovir in bulk and solid dosage form.

Twenty four Madras red lambs were weaned at 60 days of age and divided in to high forage (HF), medium forage (MF), low forage (LF) and control groups and fed with complete ration containing roughage and concentrate in the ratios of 60:40, 50:50 and 40:60 respectively. The control group was reared by grazing with concentrate supplementation G 100g per head. Carcass measurements were mainly dependent on fhe body weight at slaughter, rather than on energy levels and age. It was concluded that low forage feeding in lambs had significant influence on the primal cuts, meat and bone percentage and yield of offals, blood,liver,lungs and gut percentages. Similarly a high forage diet had significant influence on the bone percentage

This paper presents a RP-HPLC method for the simultaneous estimation of cefixime and cloxacillin in tablets. The process was carried out on C18 column (5 μm, 25 cm × 4.6 mm, i.d) using phosphate buffer (pH 5.0), acetonitrile and methanol in the ratio 80:17:3 respectively as a mobile phase at a flow rate of 2mL/min. Wavelength was fixed at 225 nm. The retention time of cefixime and cloxacillin was found to be 5.657 and 6.200 min, respectively. The developed method is rapid and sensitive and it can be used for estimation of combination of these drugs in tablets.

A simple and sensitive extractive spectrophometric method has been described for the assay of oxaprozin (OXA) either in pure form or in pharmaceutical solid dosage form. The developed method involves formation of colored chloroform extractable ion-pair complex of OXA with bromocresol green in aqueous acidic medium. The extracted complexes showed absorbance maxima at 421 nm. Beer's law is obeyed in the concentration range of 10-50 μg mL-1. This method has been applied to the determination of drug in commercial tablets. Results of analysis were validated statistically. The excipients present in the formulations do not interfere with the assay procedure.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of a methanol extract of Bauhinia racemosa (MEBR) (Caesalpiniaceae) stem bark in various systems. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical, superoxide anion radical, nitric oxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays were carried out to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the extract. The antioxidant activity of the methanol extract increased in a concentration-dependent manner. About 50, 100, 250, and 500 µg MEBR inhibited the peroxidation of a linoleic acid emulsion by 62.43, 67.21, 71.04, and 76.83%, respectively. Similarly, the effect of MEBR on reducing power increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In DPPH radical scavenging assays the IC50 value of the extract was 152.29 µg/ml. MEBR inhibited the nitric oxide radicals generated from sodium nitroprusside with an IC50 of 78.34 µg/ml, as opposed to 20.4 µg/ml for curcumin. Moreover, MEBR scavenged the superoxide generated by the PMS/NADH-NBT system. MEBR also inhibited the hydroxyl radical generated by Fenton's reaction, with an IC50 value of more than 1000 µg/ml, as compared to 5 µg/ml for catechin. The amounts of total phenolic compounds were also determined and 64.7 µg pyrocatechol phenol equivalents were detected in MEBR (1 mg). The antimicrobial activities of MEBR were determined by disc diffusion with five Gram-positive, four Gram-negative and four fungal species. MEBR showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. The results obtained in the present study indicate that MEBR can be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents.

A trial was conducted to document the feeding behaviour of crossbred Large White Yorkshire pigs under different feeding regimes. A total of 32 weaned crossbred (75 per cent) Large White Yorkshire piglets were selected at random comprising of eight piglets in each group and they were subjected to four different feeding treatments viz., 100 per cent concentrate (T1), 100 per cent swill (T2), 75 per cent swill plus 25 per cent concentrate (T3), 50 per cent swill plus 50 per cent concentrate feeding (T4). The pigs had free access to water in individual pens. The pigs were reared upto 180 days of age i.e four months after weaning. Feeding behaviour was recorded both manually and also by using video camera at fortnightly intervals in all the four groups. Intervals shorter than 5 min between visits to the feeder were regarded as within meal intervals and these visits were grouped info meals. Withdrawal of the snout from the feeder was taken as the end of feeding visit even when the pig re-entered the feeder immediately. There were highly significant (P

From these findings, it is inferred that the New Zealand White rabbits can not maintain their high growth rate if fed Desmanthus virgatus alone. Feeding of concentrate with ad-libitum green Desmanthus resulted in better growth particularly when pellet form of concentrate feed was fed in both the seasons. There was no significant difference between cold and hot season eventhough numerically, rabbits in cold season had higher growth rate when compared to those in hot season.

The object of this study was to formulate new, cost effective anti-microbial combination for multidrug resistant diseases based on the synergistic activity of oxytetracycline with methanolic extract of Thespesia populnea (Malvaceae) a medicinal plant common in South India. The MIC of methanolic extracts in combination with oxytetracycline using 12 different both gram positive and gram negative bacteria was found to be around (62.5 µg/mL to 1000 µg/mL). The synergistic activity was verified using Kirby and Bauer techniques. 83.3% shows synergistic activity against all 12 different bacteria both gram positive and gram negative species. The highest synergism rate was attained against Shigella boydii (ATCC8700).

Background: Considerable controversy exists regarding clinical presentation, diagnosis, and comorbidities especially with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), in paediatric Bipolar Disorder (BPD). Aims and objectives: To describe phenomenology and comorbidities of paediatric BPD. Method: 78 Subjects (6-16 years) attending child and adolescent psychiatry services of C.S.M.M.U. Lucknow, who fulfilled DSM-IV-TR 2000 criteria for BPD were assessed using K-SADS-PL, child mania rating scale (CMRS),child depression rating scale (CDRS), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder rating scale (ADHD-RS) and Clinical Global Assessment Scale (C-GAS). Results: All the subjects were diagnosed as BPD-I. There mean chronological age was 13.4 plus or minus 2.1 years. The mean age at onset of BPD was 12.2 plus or minus 2.3 years. The most common symptoms found in manic subjects were increased goal directed activities (100%), distractibility (100%), elation (98.7%), grandiosity (90.5%), physical restlessness (82.4%), poor judgment (82.4%) and decreased need for sleep (81.1%). 19 (24.3%) cases of BPD had other current comorbid disorders. The common comorbidities were Mental Retardation (10.26%), ADHD (10.26%), oppositional defiant disorder (6.41%), and substance abuse (3.85%). Conclusions: In children and adolescents elation/grandiosity was more common presentation than Irritability. Comorbidities were seen in 24.3% children in paediatric BPD. Differentiation of comorbid disruptive behaviour disorders especially ADHD from BPD is possible with respect to age of onset, quality of the disturbed mood, and the course of each disorder.