Geochemical partitioning and leaching behaviour of geogenic contaminants from the partially weathered rocks in chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) endemic regions in Sri Lanka.

Studies regarding geochemical partitioning and leaching behavior of Hofmeister ions, which is considered as a risk/causative factor for chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu), are scarce. Therefore, Hofmeister ions' leaching behavior of partially weathered rocks from CKDu endemic (Girandurukotte) and non-endemic (Sewanagala) areas, Sri Lanka were compared. Rock mineralogy was analyzed using X-ray Diffraction, and total ion contents were determined using alkaline and acid digestions.

Situational analysis of pesticide poisoning and perceptions of autoinjector devices in rural communities in Sri Lanka - a study protocol.

Intentional and unintentional pesticide poisoning is an important public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Individuals who have been exposed to toxic pesticides, particularly organophosphorus insecticides, need early treatment. Atropine autoinjector devices offer a potential solution, allowing storage of effective treatment near agricultural workers' fields and homes that could be reached within minutes by the worker or fellow villagers to provide first-line emergency care.

Investigating disease awareness of cutaneous leishmaniasis in rural Sri Lanka to inform public health services: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: To assess community awareness of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in a disease-endemic district in Sri Lanka.

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: This study was conducted in selected 158 Grama Niladhari divisions covering all the 22 Divisional Secretariat areas of the Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka.

Financial Stress Amongst People Who Self-Harm in Sri Lanka.

Objective: Socioeconomic status deprivation is known to be associated with self-harm in Western countries but there is less information about this association in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMIC). One way of investigating this is to assess the prevalence of indicators of financial stress in people who self-harm. We have assessed the prevalence and correlates of day-to-day financial hardships amongst individual presenting with non-fatal self-harm to hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Strengthening primary health care through community health workers in South Asia.

Unlabelled: The growing health challenges in South Asia require further adaptations of community health worker (CHW) programs as a key element of primary health care (PHC). This paper provides a comparative analysis of CHW programs in five countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), examines successes and challenges, and suggests reforms to better ensure highly performing CHW programs. To examine CHW programs in the region, we conducted a narrative review of the peer-reviewed and grey literatures, as well as eliciting opinions from experts.

Risk Factors for Latent Tuberculosis among Health-care Workers in Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Management of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) was introduced as a national policy in Sri Lanka in 2022, targeting high-risk groups, including health-care workers (HCWs). This study aimed to identify the potential risk factors for LTBI among HCWs in government hospitals.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted.

Exploring fidelity of enactment in a cluster randomised controlled trial testing the effectiveness of 'gatekeeper' training for pesticide vendors in reducing self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka: protocol for a multimethod qualitative study.

Introduction: Pesticide self-poisoning causes severe health and socioeconomic hardship in low- and middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka. A stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial (cRCT) has been designed to test whether 'gatekeeper' training for pesticide vendors reduces pesticide self-poisoning in rural Sri Lanka (Vendor cRCT). Ensuring intervention fidelity in RCTs is essential for consistently replicating interventions, accurately assessing their impact and improving outcomes.

Living Conditions and Malaria: A Longitudinal Study in a Rural Malaria-Endemic Area of Sri Lanka.

This study was conducted in a rural malaria-endemic community in Sri Lanka in 2014-2015 because malaria was no longer endemic in the area as of November 2012. Data on sociodemographic factors, living conditions, malaria infections, and use of mosquito protection methods during the period from 1990 to 2015 were collected through a household survey in a systematically selected sample of 724 households, covering >10% of the population in the area. Malaria incidence data were obtained from Anti-Malaria Campaign, and Malaria Research Unit of the University of Colombo.

Reconstitution of oral antibiotic suspensions for paediatric use in households: a cross-sectional study among caregivers of 3-5-year-old children from a selected district, Sri Lanka.

Introduction: Reconstitution of oral pediatric antibiotic suspension by primary caregivers plays an essential role in determining the overall health outcome of the child. Incorrect reconstitution techniques could lead to underdosing, overdosing, or introduction of infection. Underdosing could lead to non-resolving infection and antimicrobial resistance.

Mental stress recognition on the fly using neuroplasticity spiking neural networks.

Mental stress is found to be strongly connected with human cognition and wellbeing. As the complexities of human life increase, the effects of mental stress have impacted human health and cognitive performance across the globe. This highlights the need for effective non-invasive stress detection methods.

Na/K carrier ionophore antibiotics valinomycin and monensin enhance the antibacterial activity of fluoride.

Fluoride is routinely used as a highly effective antibacterial agent that interferes with bacterial metabolism through fundamentally different mechanisms. One of the major bacterial evasion mechanisms against fluoride is the impermeability of cell envelope to the anion that limits its cellular uptake. Therefore, translating such compounds to clinical settings requires novel mechanisms to facilitate the uptake of membrane-impermeant molecules.

Development and validation of the Quality of Work Life Scale for elderly workers.

Background: With the rapid rise in the elderly population and their labour force participation, quality of work life (QoWL) of elderly workers becomes an important concept. A valid instrument to measure elderly workers QoWL is a prerequisite to further in this direction.

Objective: To develop and validate the Quality of Work Life Scale-Elderly (QoWLS-E) for elderly workers 60 years and above in Sri Lanka.

Examining the place of the female condom in india's family planning program aqualitative investigation of the attitudes, opinions of key stakeholders in Pune, India.

Background: With overpopulation contributing to the depletion of planetary resources, the high rates of unintended pregnancies in India are a cause for concern. Despite the free supply of contraception options within India's national family planning initiatives, women are generally offered hormonal options as temporary spacing methods. However, female condoms, a much neglected but potent woman initiated, non-hormonal multipurpose prevention device, are yet to be considered for inclusion in India's contraceptive cafeteria.

Arigatō: Effects of Adaptive Guidance On Engagement and Performance in Augmented Reality Learning Environments.

Experiential learning (ExL) is the process of learning through experience or more specifically "learning through reflection on doing". In this paper, we propose a simulation of these experiences, in Augmented Reality (AR), addressing the problem of language learning. Such systems provide an excellent setting to support "adaptive guidance", in a digital form, within a real environment.

Quantifying the Effects of Working in VR for One Week.

Virtual Reality (VR) provides new possibilities for modern knowledge work. However, the potential advantages of virtual work environments can only be used if it is feasible to work in them for an extended period of time. Until now, there are limited studies of long-term effects when working in VR.

VocabulARy: Learning Vocabulary in AR Supported by Keyword Visualisations.

Learning vocabulary in a primary or secondary language is enhanced when we encounter words in context. This context can be afforded by the place or activity we are engaged with. Existing learning environments include formal learning, mnemonics, flashcards, use of a dictionary or thesaurus, all leading to practice with new words in context.