The potential value of the seaweed Ceylon moss (Gelidium amansii) as an alternative bioenergy resource

Sea weed (Ceylon moss) possesses comparable bioenergy production potential to that of land plants. Ceylon moss has high content of carbohydrates, typically galactose (23%) and glucose (20%). We have explored the possibility of sodium chlorite in Ceylon moss pretreatment that can ultimately increase the efficiency of enzymatic saccharification. In an acidic medium, chlorite generates ClO₂ molecules that transform lignin into soluble compounds without any significant loss of carbohydrate content and this procedure is widely used as an analytical method for holocellulose determination. Sodium chlorite-pretreated samples resulted in glucose yield up to 70% with contrast of only 5% was obtained from non-pretreated samples.The efficiency of enzymatic hydrolysis is significantly improved by sodium chlorite pretreatment, and thus sodium chlorite pretreatment is potentially a very useful tool in the utilisation of Ceylon moss biomass for ethanol production or bioenergy purposes.     

Transmission of Plasmodium fragile to Saimiri monkeys

Saimiri monkeys from Bolivia and Guyana were infected with the Nilgiri and Ceylon strains of Plasmodium fragile. Of 20 attempted sporozoite transmissions of the Ceylon strain involving 11 splenectomized Saimiri sciureus boliviensis, only 8 were successful, 2 by mosquito bite and 6 by intravenous injection of sporozoites dissected from salivary glands. Prepatent periods ranged from 18 to 30 days with a mean of 25.8 days.     

Varietal differences in the constituents of citronella oil

Gas chromatography of citronella oil showed that the Ceylon variety (Lenabatu) contained large amounts of monoterpene hydrocarbons, while the Java variety (Mahapengiri) contained only small amounts, mainly limonene. Both types contained comparable amounts of geraniol, and the Java type more of citronellol and citronellal. In addition the Ceylon type contained tricyclene, methyl eugenol, methyl isoeugenol, eugenol and l-borneol. The GLC profiles enable the identification of the type of oil and the detection of kerosene as a possible adulterant. The variety that grows wild in Ceylon (Mana) was quite different to both cultivated types.     

A SIMPLE NEW MYCETOZOAN WITH BALLISTOSPORES

A new, single-spored mycetozoan, Schizoplasmodium cavostelioides, was isolated from dead plant materials collected in New Zealand, Australia, Ceylon, North Carolina, and Florida. Its vegetative stage consists of thin, colorless plasmodia that grow vigorously in culture with an unidentified yeast (or yeast and bacterium). Prior to sporulation the plasmodium breaks up into multinucleate prespore cells which develop immediately into simple fruiting bodies, each consisting of a single multinucleate spore on a short stalk. Under proper conditions a gas bubble appears on one side of the spore, enlarges and bursts, thus discharging the spore. Upon germination the spore releases a single small, multinucleate Plasmodium.     

A survey of glucose-6-phosphate-dehydrogenase deficiency in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon).

A high frequency of the G6PD deficient gene was detected in the North Central Province of Sri Lanka. The frequency in the ancient villages is much higher than that of the recently colonised areas. The Sinhalese and Ceylon Moors have a significantly higher frequency as opposed to the Ceylon Tamils. The distribution appears to be related to a history of exposure to malarial endemicity.     

NEW SPECIES AND RECORDS OF POLYCHAETA FROM CEYLON

A collection of polychaetes made by the author in December 1961 and April 1962 from a number of places on the coast of Ceylon was examined. Seven new species and one new subspecies are described and sixteen species are recorded new to the fauna of Ceylon. The holotypes and lectotypes have been deposited in the British Museum (Natural History).     

Chronic Liver Disease: Differences in Autoimmune Serological Reactions between Australians and Asians

A total of 164 patients from Australia, Ceylon, India, Singapore, and Thailand were studied for the prevalence of autoantibodies associated with “idiopathic” chronic liver disease—namely, antinuclear antibody, smooth muscle antibody, and mitochondrial antibody. The prevalence of these autoantibodies was high among patients from Australia (55%), but was low among patients from Ceylon (14%), India (11%), Singapore (0%), and Thailand (8%). There are variations in types of hepatitis and cirrhosis between races, and this applies particularly to the type associated with autoimmune markers. This may be related to genetic differences that have evolved between peoples of European and Asian descent.     

Lijndenia, a re–established paleotropical genus of the Melastomataceae–Memecyleae

The genus Lijndenia Zoll. & Mor. is re–established and emended to include four species, L. laurina Zoll. & Mor. from W Malesia and Java, L. capitellata (Arn.) Bremer from Ceylon, L. gardneri (Thw.) Bremer from Ceylon, and L. barteri (Hook. f.) Bremer from tropical W Africa. The latter three names are new combinations.     

Frequencies of chromosome polymorphism in pairs no. 1, 9, and 13 in three geographical variants of black rats,Rattus rattus

Frequencies of the acrocentric and subtelocentric polymorphism in pairs no. 1, 9 and 13 chromosomes have been examined in 358 black rats, Rattus rattus, distributed over several countries of Asia, Australia and United States. The black rats are divided into three geographical types by the different chromosome numbers, such as Asian (2n=42), Ceylon (2n=40) and Oceanian types (2n=38). Pairs no. 13 polymorphism was found widely in these all types, but the pair no. 1 and 9 polymorphisms were found in only Asian type black rats. In the Asian type rats, however, those distributed in northern India and Pakistan showed always the subtelocentric pairs no. 1 and 9 like as those in Ceylon and Oceanian type black rats. This finding supports that the Ceylon and Oceanien type rats have developed in India or Pakistan from the Asian type. The present study also suggests that inversion of the pair no. 13 could have occurred in earlier period than those of the pairs no. 1 and 9.     

A reevaluation of the genus Exacum (Gentianaceae) in Ceylon

A taxonomic reevaluation of the Ceylonese species of the paleotropic genus of Gentianaceae, Exacum L. (ca. 40 species), is made. Eight species are recognized. Five of the species are endemic to Ceylon and three are also found in India. One species new to Ceylon is presented, viz. E. pedunculalum L., and one new combination is made, viz. E. pallidum (Trim.) Klack. Typifications, maps and a key to the species are given. The micromorphology of seeds, pollen grains, and cuticular structures as seen by means of SEM is also given and its implications for taxonomy discussed.     

A biological active artificial saliva formulation containing flower mucilage from Ceylon Spinach (Basella alba Linn.)

Ceylon Spinach (Basella albe) is an edible perennial vine found in tropical Asia and Africa, known as vegetables containing mucilage. Its mucilage from flowers was extracted by microwaving and precipitated with 95% ethanol. Five artificial saliva formulations composing of mucilage from Ceylon Spinach, calcium chloride (CaCl₂), potassium chloride (KCl) and sodium fluoride (NF) were developed. The best formulation No.5 containing 0.61% of the mucilage with the non-Newtonian pseudoplastic flow (8.9 ± 0.2 cP) and the wetting time (12.50 ± 2.24 min) similar to the normal human saliva was selected. This artificial saliva formulation exhibited biological activities including an antioxidative activity by DPPH free radical scavenging with the SC₅₀ of 14.26 ± 2.00 mg/ml (0.05 folds of ascorbic acid), and the adhesion inhibition of S. mutans on hydroxyapatite beads at 17.01 ± 7.75%, while the natural human saliva exhibited an increase bacterial adhesion of 33.10 ± 9.70%. The safety of this formulation which gave no cytotoxicity on normal human gingival fibroblasts at 99.20 ± 21.09% cell viability was also demonstrated. The results from this study have indicated high biological activity and safety of the developed formulation containing mucilage from Ceylon Spinach which is potential to be used as artificial saliva for xerostomia patients.     

Effect of growth temperature on carbon isotopic ratios in barley, pea and rape

Barley, pea and rape were grown in controlled environments atday/night temperatures ranging from 13/4 to 35/27?C. Shoot tissuewas analyzed for changes in the natural abundance ratio of ^l3C/¹²C.More¹³C was incorporated during growth at low temperatures thanat higher temperatures, but the change in isotopic ratio wasnot linear over the temperature range employed. ³Present address: Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ceylon,Peradeniya, Ceylon. (Received September 13, 1972; )     

An improved integrated pest management model under 2-control parameters (sterile male and pesticide)

The object of the present paper is to study an integrated pest management (IPM) problem in an agroecosystem (paddy-fish culture) through mathematical modeling and analysis, where release of sterile males and spraying of pesticide have been used as control measures for pest population. Using optimal analysis of the model, we have shown that restricted and proper use of control measures might enhance the crop production of the system in an economically viable way. The paper also considers the vulnerability of the underlined ecosystem due to the effect of temperature on the pest growth. Using Liapunov-like function, we have found out a suitable range of temperature, where this IPM strategy remains effective. Some important remarks have finally been made on the basis of numerical simulation.     

Methyl Jasmonate and Lactones Including Jasmine Lactone in Ceylon Tea

The ester and lactone fraction possessing the most attractive aroma was separated from the aroma concentrate of Ceylon flavory tea by silica-gel column chromatography and analyzed by GC-MS.

Methyl 2-(cis-2′-pentenyl)-cyclopentanone-3-acetate(methyl jasmonate), 5-(cis-2′-pentenyl)-5-pentanolide (jasmine lactone), 2,3-dimethyl-2-nonen-4-olide, 4-octanolide, 4-nonanolide and 5-decanolide were newly identified as the constituents of tes aroma. Former two compounds seemed to carry a major share of aroma character of Ceylon flavory tea.     

Constituents and Composition of Steam Volatile Aroma from Ceylon Tea

The constituents of steam volatile aroma, which were responsible for topnote of Ceylon tea aroma, were identified. A total of 57 compounds were identified, of which 10 (ter-pinolene, n-nonanal, trans-2-pentenal, trans-3-octen-2-one, 6-methyl-3,5-heptadien-2-one, n-nonanol, cis-3-hexenylbutyrate, cis-3-hexenylcaproate, α-terpinylacetate and nerylacetate) had not previously been reported as associated with aroma of black tea. Approximate composition of topnote aroma from Ceylon flavory tea was also determined.     

The potential of the fungus, Muscodor albus, as a microbial control agent of potato tuber moth (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) in stored potatoes

Potato tuber moth (PTM), Phthorimaea operculella, is a serious pest of stored potato in most countries where potatoes are grown. Entomopathogens offer promise as alternatives to broad spectrum insecticides for management of this pest. The fungus Muscodor albus, which produces a mixture of antimicrobial volatile organic chemicals, was tested for its insecticidal activity against PTM. Adults and neonate larvae were exposed to volatiles generated by 15 or 30 g of M. albus rye grain culture plus water for 72 h in hermetically sealed 28.3 L chambers at 24 degrees C. Mean percent mortalities in adult moths exposed to 0, 15, and 30 g of fungal formulation were 0.9, 84.6, and 90.6%, respectively. Development to the pupal stage of PTM that were exposed as neonate larvae to 15 or 30 of M. albus culture was reduced by 61.8 and 72.8%, respectively, relative to controls.     

The Hygrophila complex (Acanthaceae) in India and Ceylon

A reassessment of the genus Hygrophila in India and Ceylon is made with reference to Asteracantha, Cardanthera, Synnema, Hemiadelphis and Adenosma , recognized as allied genera by past Indian and Ceylon authors. An over-emphasis on variable and overlapping characters by respective authors has led to the delimitation of these genera from one another and from Hygrophila. Examination of additional material from increasing floristic activity in Africa and Asia reveals that several characters are too variable to establish their generic status. It is concluded that they represent only two genera, viz. Hygrophila and Hemiadelphis. Additional clarifications are made to Heine's amendment of Hygrophila.     

Antigen Analysis of the Cultivated Paddy Straw Mushroom of Thailand, Philippines and Ceylon

An antigen analysis was carried out on three strains of thecultivated paddy straw mushroom, CI.52, CI.53, and CY.101 fromThailand, Philippines, and Ceylon respectively. Saline extractsof the antigen were prepared from fully open carpophores ofthe three strains. Antibodies to the mushroom extracts wereprepared in rabbits by subcutaneous inoculations of the alumprecipitated extracts of the three strains, and the precipitinsin the sera of the rabbits were studied by means of the Ouchterlonygel diffusion and immuno-electrophoresis precipitin reactions.The immuno-diffusion precipitin studies indicated that therewere no observable antigenic differences between the strains.The three strains were also similar in morphological characteristics.The results suggest that the strains cultivated in Thailand,Philippines, and Ceylon are similar to Volvariella volvacea(Fr.), Sing. var. masseei, Sing.     

On a new anoplocephalid cestode Biporouterina psittaculae gen. et sp. nov. from Layard's paroquet Psittacula calthropae (Layard 1849)

A new genus and species of anoplocephalid cestode infesting Layard's paroquet is described from Ceylon.