http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10849 2026-04-23T11:07:16Z 2026-04-23T11:07:16Z Banneheke, H. Hall, R. Vasu, V. Muhlschlegel, F. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10862 2022-03-25T04:56:13Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Can metabolically generated CO 2 enhance Candida albicans biofilm formation within central venous catheters used in preterm infants?:An in vitro study Banneheke, H.; Hall, R.; Vasu, V.; Muhlschlegel, F. Candida albicans is responsible for the majority of invasive fungal infections in preterm infants. Biofilm formation within indwelling central venous catheter (CVC) used for these preterm babies leads to CVC related infections and may lead to antifungal resistance. Metabolically generated CO2 can act as a communicating molecule triggering the yeast to filamentous transition that is essential for the pathological effects caused by C. albicans. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that CO2 generated by C. albicans contributes to biofilm-formation in central venous catheters utilised in preterm infants. An in vitro model with neonatal CVCs, using established CO2 bio indicator strain (CO2-BIS) to determine whether there is an accumulation of metabolic CO2 within the catheters, which may be influencing C. albicans biofilm formation was developed. Biofilms formed within CVC lines showed an enhanced recovery of CO2-BIS (p=0.06) when co-incubated with another CO2 donor C. albicans strain CAI4. This indicated that the metabolically generated CO2 from neighbouring CAI4 cells within the biofilm had generated sufficient CO2 to complement the growth demand of CO2-BIS. Therefore, these results highlight the importance of high concentrations of CO2 in the circulatory system, which enhances fungal pathogenicity and may lead to invasive candidiasis.

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Olutola, A.T. Nini, F. N. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10861 2022-03-25T04:53:37Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Correlation between the Academic Performance of Students in Continuous Assessment and the National Examinations Council in English Language in Jos-South, Nigeria Olutola, A.T.; Nini, F. N. This study investigated the correlate between academic performances of students in continuous assessment and National Examinations Council English language in Jos-South, Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. The researchers used correlational research design in the study. Five hundred and six (506) students who sat for English language National Examinations Council (NECO) examination in 2016/2017 academic session in Jos-South of Plateau State public and private schools were selected as study sample through the use of simple random sampling technique. The sample consisted of 291 males and 215 females. Frequency, percentage, t-test and Pearson product correlation analysis were used to analyze the data collected for the study. The results of the study revealed no significant relationship between academic performance of students’ in Continuous Assessment (CA) English language and NECO English language. Also, no significant difference was found between male and female students’ academic performance in CA and NECO English language examination while significant difference existed between private and public school students’ performance in CA and NECO English language examination. It was recommended that school administrators should monitor the conduct of English language CA by their teachers in order to improve students’ performance in NECO English language examinations.

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Jayawardana, S.A.S. Samarasekera, J.K.R.R. Hettiarachchi, G.H.C.M. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10860 2022-03-25T04:50:41Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Antimicrobial Properties of Ethanolic and Methanolic Extracts of Finger millet (Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn.) Varieties Cultivated in Sri Lanka Jayawardana, S.A.S.; Samarasekera, J.K.R.R.; Hettiarachchi, G.H.C.M. The emerging significance of natural antimicrobial agents creates an imperative need to identify novel plant sources with antimicrobial activities. The objective of the present study was to evaluate antibacterial, antifungal and β-lactamase enzyme inhibitory activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Ravi, Rawana and Oshadha finger millet varieties. Flours of whole grains of the finger millet varieties were extracted with absolute ethanol and methanol separately. Antibacterial activities against six antibioticsensitive and four antibiotic-resistant pathogenic bacterial strains were evaluated using the resazurin reduction assay. Antifungal activities against six antimicrobial-sensitive pathogenic fungal strains were evaluated using the agar tube dilution method. β-Lactamase enzyme inhibitory activity was evaluated using a standard method. Both ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the three finger millet varieties showed dosedependent inhibitory activities against the tested antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains while exhibiting high inhibitions against Gram-positive antibiotic-sensitive bacterial strains when compared to Gram-negative antibiotic-sensitive bacterial strains. The findings revealed the antibacterial potential of both ethanolic and methanolic extracts of the three finger millet varieties against antibioticsensitive Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC® 6538™) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC® 23857™) strains and the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the extracts against S. aureus and B. subtilis were found to be 2.1 and 1.8 mg/ml, respectively. However, none of the extracts can be considered as significantly active against the tested antibiotic-sensitive and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains when compared to the standard drugs. In addition, none of the extracts can be considered as active against the tested fungal strains at the tested concentrations. Nevertheless, all extracts showed more activities against the tested bacterial strains when compared to the tested fungal strains. Since all extracts showed less than 40% β-lactamase inhibitory activities even at 2 mg/ml concentration, they do not qualify as promising sources of β-lactamase inhibitors at the tested concentration

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Salihu, A. C. Abdulkadir, A. Nsofor, G. N. Otache, M. Y. http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10859 2022-03-25T04:47:41Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

PROJECTED EXTREME RAINFALL INDICES IN GUINEA AND SUDANO-SAHELIAN ECOLOGICAL ZONES, NIGERIA Salihu, A. C.; Abdulkadir, A.; Nsofor, G. N.; Otache, M. Y. Drought and Flood episodes are twin issues that are consequences of extreme rainfall events. The negative impact of extreme rainfall events makes understanding their behaviour under the future climate change necessary for regional planning. Hence, the objective of the study is to project extreme rainfall indices in Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zones, Nigeria. A set of four extreme rainfall indices namely: maximum 5-day rainfall (Rx5day), heavy rainfall days (R10mm), consecutive wet days (CWD) and consecutive dry days (CDD) were adopted. The data and computation were done using KNMI Climate Explorer. Projections were produced for the near-term 2019-2048, mid-term 2049-2078 and long-term 2079-2100 periods with reference to the 1959-1988 and 1989-2018 baselines. The multi-model ensemble mean of couple model intercomparison project 5 (CMIP5) under representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6, 4.5, and 8.5 were used. Mann-Kendal statistical test was adopted to analyze the trends in extreme rainfall indices at the 0.05 significance level. Based on the results, it can be deduced that there is a significant positive trend in the whole Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zone as a region for maximum 5-day rainfall with respect to all the three RCPs. As for heavy rainfall, itreveals that there is no significant positive trend for RCP2.6 with respect to the three projected periods under consideration but significant positive trends with respect to 2049-2078 for RCP4.5 as well as RCP8.5 with respect to 2049-2078 and 2079-2100 periods. Increase in CDD, as well as a decrease in CWD, were both not significant at the 0.05 confidence level. Therefore, it is expected that this study will aid guidance to the understanding of the ongoing changes as well as possible changes in rainfall and rainfall-related extremes. It is also important for future planning of water resources management and agriculture in Guinea and Sudano-Sahelian ecological zones of Nigeria.

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z