International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 70 microplastics per fish were discovered. Majority of ingested particles were filament (~69%). A notable fraction of the ingested particles measured under 1 mm in size, and among them, transparent particles predominated, accounting for 40% in terms of color. As a result, the collection of this data serves as a tool for increasing awareness. KEYWORDS: Aquatic biota, Lagoon, Microplastics, Sediment, Surface water. 1,2,3 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 71 MEDICALLY IMPORTANT ROVE BEETLES IN BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA A.A.S.N. Kalansooriya1,*, T. Ranathunge2 and M. Vinobaba3 ABSTRACT Rove beetles, belonging to various genera within the family Staphylinidae (Coleoptera), have been identified as causative agents of dermatitis upon contact with human skin. This dermatological condition exhibits prevalence in specific geographical regions characterized by a hot and tropical climate, exemplified by Eastern region of Sri Lanka. Instances of dermatitis have been reported seasonally in locations such as student hostels within Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Despite much research from other countries on this subject, few studies, mostly questionnaire, have been performed in Sri Lanka. Therefore, current study was carried out to identify species of Rove beetles and their ecology. Adult Rove beetle samples were collected in selected hostel rooms at nighttime from January to December 2022. Rove beetles were identified using standard identification keys. A total of 47 rove beetles belongs to four species namely: Paederus fuscipes, P. australis, Sunius rufipes and Diminudon sp. responsible for irritant contact dermatitis. These four different species of family Staphylinidae were morphologically identified based on the characters of the colour of the head, pronotum, basal abdominal segment, elytra, terminal abdominal segment, legs with femoral base. In addition, the colour of the antennae, mandibles, maxillary palpomere were used to identify different species. Diminudon sp. can be distinguished from other species of subfamily Staphylininae based on these characters: average body with 7.5 mm to 8.5 mm, whole body with pale yellow color including head, antennae, pronotum, abdomen and legs. This study reports
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 72 for the first time an outbreak of dermatitis linearis associated with exposure to four different rove beetle species in Sri Lanka. Increasing the level of knowledge of people about the cause of the disease and about the behavioral patterns of the insect are important in terms of disease prevention. KEYWORDS: Diminudon sp.,Paederus fuscipes, Pacderus australis, Staphylinidae, Sunius rufipes. 1,2,3 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 73 STUDY THE INVASION OF ROVE BEETLE (Order: Coleoptera, Family: Staphylinidae) AND THEIR THREATS TO HUMAN BEINGS A.A.S.N Kalansooriya 1,* and M. Vinobaba2 ABSTRACT Among the Rove beetles (Family: Staphylinidae) holding particular medical significance due to their substantial impact on human life. Dermatitis linearis most often occurs on exposed skin of body parts, where a beetle is subsequently crushed. In the early stages, the impacted areas exhibit redness with severe itching or a burning sensation, followed by the formation of vesicles and those are lasting for one or two weeks before eventually crusting, drying, and peeling off. The invasion of rove beetles into human settings has emerged as a significant global concern. In Sri Lanka, incidents have been reported in the Colombo region, Lady Ridgeway Hospital, and Eastern University. This study was specifically concentrated on recently invaded areas by rove beetles, which are accountable for the emergence of recent cases of dermatological manifestations in Sri Lanka. Students from the University of Ruhuna which is situated in Matara, Wellamadama, and surrounding areas, residents from Pollonnaruwa, and the students from Eastern University participated in this questionnaire. Most of the cases presented during October to December. From the responses 18.4% was realized as the affected victims from the University of Ruhuna in 2023. From that 66.7% was female and 33.3%was male. In the same time 52.9% was affected by Dermatitis linearis in Eastern University and from that higher number of female victims (81.2%) were reported than that of male victims (18.8%). According to the results it seems to be higher incidences in Eastern University than the University of Ruhuna. There is an incident in
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 74 Pollonnaruwa which was suffered from the Dermatitis linearis. According to the beetles’ morphological explanation and on-site inspections it was identified as rove beetles. For the first time it is reported incidents of Dermatitis linearis in Matara and the prevalence of dermatitis linearis in Polonnaruwa, associated with exposure to rove beetle species in Sri Lanka. The invasion of rove beetles through the dry zones in Sri Lanka poses a potential risk. KEYWORDS: Dermatitis linearis, iching, Pederin, Rove beetles. 1,2 Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 75 COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ZOOPLANKTON COMPOSITION IN TWO TROPICAL LAGOONS IN BATTICALOA DISTRICT M.M. Ashraf Nisa1* , P. Vinobaba2 and A.J.M. Harris3 ABSTRACT Study was aimed to assess the composition, abundance of zooplankton species with physico-chemical water quality parameters in two tropical lagoons located in Batticaloa district, Batticaloa lagoon and Valaichchenai lagoon. In Batticaloa lagoon, total of 16 sampling points were selected for this investigation. In Valaichchenai lagoon, total of 12 sampling points were selected, based on different anthropogenic influences. Study was carried out for a period of one year on fortnightly. Zooplankton species were collected using standard plankton net, preserved in 4% formalin and analyzed according to the standard procedure. The water quality parameters pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Nitrate, Surface Temperature, Turbidity, Electrical Conductivity, Phosphate, Salinity were measured in-situ. In Batticaloa lagoon total of 50 species of zooplankton comprising 3 taxonomic groups namely Protozoa (8 species, 12.64%), Rotifera (28 species, 53.34%) and Arthropoda (14 species, 34.01%) were recorded . Among them Keratella sp, Brachionus sp, Hexarthra mira, Trichocerca were more abundant. High saline regions such as LB1 (Paalameenmadu), LB2 (Kallady) showed comparatively less dominance of rotifer. The protozoan prefer LB1, LB2 which highly influenced by salinity. Arthropoda prefer LB3, LB5, LB6, LB7,LB11 and LB15 with similar water quality parameters. Rotifers prefer LB4, LB10, LB13 and . LB16. The regions LB11, LB15, LB16 were with high nitrate levels. In valaichchenai lagoon, total of 62 species of zooplankton comprising taxonomic groups namely Protozoa (21 species, 34%), rest of
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 76 them were Eukaryotes (66%, 41 species). In eukaryotes, Rotifer ( 60%), Arthropoda (27%), rest of them were Coelenterates, Annelida, Mollusca, Echinoderm and Chordata. In protozoan, Arcella sp was recorded at L1,L6 and L8 with high water temperature. Discorbis sp found at L1,L7 and L9. The ciliates including Mesodinium rubrum, Favella sp, Undella hyaline and Tintinnopsis sp were widely distributed. High salinity (L1), high level of phosphate (L5, L7) contribute to ciliates composition. Rotifers such as Filinia sp, Keratella sp, Hexarthra sp, Testudinella sp were low saline species, L12 with low salinity showed high distribution of species. Some were Salinity tolerant species such as Asplanchna priodonta, Brachionus sp and Pompholyx complanata. Further nutrition pollutants such as high nitrate (L2, L4 and L7), high phosphate (L5, L7) also favor the species composition. High temperature also influence their growth at L4, L7. Arthropod dominated by copepods and nauplius stage of species. Daphnia sp, Diaphanosoma sp were high in low saline regions (L4 to L12). Bosmina sp, Holopedium sp were found in high saline regions. High abundance and assemblages of zooplankton might be due to the water quality of lagoon by means of river discharge, surface runoff and other land use practices. Both Batticaloa lagoon and Valaichchenai lagoon were highly contaminated with various anthropogenic wastes. Zooplankton species diversity, composition and distribution pattern along different sampling regions greatly indicate the water quality of the lagoon. KEYWORDS: Abundance, Bio-Indicator, Composition, Water Quality, Zooplankton. 1,2,3Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 77 ENHANCING ANTIBIOFILM EFFECT USING MOLECULAR SALTS J.C. Shwetha1 , K.U. Vineetha2 , M. Ramaravinth2 , Saisubramanian Nagarajan2 and K. Solomon3 ABSTRACT This study investigates the potential of molecular salts, specifically those derived through molecular salts employing pipemedic acid (PMA), as a novel approach to counter the challenges posed by biofilm resilience. The research problem at hand revolves around the persistent issues associated with the synthesis of molecular salts, prompting an examination into the efficacy of these salts—specifically focusing on PMA salts in inhibiting and disrupting biofilms. In addition to addressing biofilm challenges, this study extends its scope to encompass Microbial Inhibition Concentration (MIC) studies. The methods employed in this research involve molecular salts techniques using carefully selected coformers. Crystal violet-based biofilm assays are then conducted, targeting ESKAPE pathogens, with a notable emphasis on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This comprehensive methodology aims to evaluate the impact of PMA salts on biofilm inhibition and provide insights into their potential as antimicrobial agents. The data obtained from crystal violet-based biofilm assays reveal compelling results. Among the PMA salts, the benzoic acid salt emerges as exceptionally effective, demonstrating an impressive 85% inhibition of P. aeruginosa biofilms. This significant finding underscores the potency of molecular salts, particularly those formed through molecular salts, in disrupting biofilm resilience. The molecular salts exhibit a heightened susceptibility of microbial communities to antimicrobial agents, showcasing the potential of molecular salts as a suitable strategy in addressing challenges associated with biofilm resilience.
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 78 In conclusion, this study positions molecular salts, specifically utilizing PMA, as a promising and innovative strategy against biofilm-associated infections. The exceptional efficacy observed, especially with the benzoic acid salt, highlights the potential of molecular salts in combating biofilm resilience. Suggestions for future work include further exploration of molecular salts strategies, optimization of coformer selection, and expanding the application to a broader spectrum of microbial pathogens. This interdisciplinary approach offers valuable insights into the dynamic intersection of chemistry and microbiology, paving the way for transformative strategies in antimicrobial research and drug development. KEYWORDS: Molecular salts, Biofilm, Microbial Inhibition Concentration, Pipemedic acid, ESKAPE Pathogens. 1 Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Kalaburgi, Karnataka, India. 2Antimicrobial Resistance Lab, ASK-I-312, School of Chemical and Biotechnology, Shastra Deemed University, Tamil Nadu, India. 3Department of Chemistry, Dayananda Sagar University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 79 DETECTING CRUSHING STRESS IN LEAVES THROUGH ULTRA-WEAK PHOTON EMISSION ANALYSIS G. Venkata Sai Anil Chandra1* and Ramya Raghavan2* ABSTRACT Living organisms, from plants and animals to human cells, emit faint light that reflects their metabolic activity, stress levels, and overall health. This phenomenon, known as ultra-weak photon emission (UPE), has gained traction as a potential non-invasive, cost-effective, and early biomarker for real-time stress detection in plants. Plants often experience crushing forces, which can induce stress and potentially lead to damage or death. This study investigated the UPE response of leaves subjected to controlled crushing forces. We hypothesized that crushing alters UPE spectra because of changes in metabolic activity and the generation of excited electronic states linked to stress response pathways. Cauliflower seedling leaves were subjected to simulated mechanical injury by crushing, and their UPE spectra properties were analyzed. In a dark environment, a highly sensitive photomultiplier tube (PMT) measured the UPE intensity as photon counts per second before and after crushing. The spectral distribution was also analyzed. Compared with the controls, crushed leaves displayed a significant change in UPE intensity. The UPE spectra revealed distinct spectral features associated with stress-induced biochemical changes. Crushing stress is an inherent part of a plant’s life cycle, affecting its growth, physiology, and ultimately yield. This non-invasive, in vivo data is unique as previous research has focused on injuries, neglecting the subtler aspects of crushing. Our study focused on the short-term changes in UPE after crushing. Further research is required to investigate how UPE patterns evolve and whether they can predict long-term plant health and recovery. This study paves the way for a novel technique for
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 80 monitoring plant health and stress responses. Future research efforts should focus on developing UPE-based sensors and monitoring systems that are portable, cost-effective, and user-friendly for practical application in agriculture. KEYWORDS: Photomultiplier tube (PMT), Plant stress, Crushing stress, Bio photonics, Agriculture. 1,2 Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Kalaburgi, Karnataka, India. * Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 81 THE STUDY ON URGENCY OF ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE V. Shobana Devi1 and P. Ganesan1 ABSTRACT Climate change stands as one of the most pressing challenges of our time, with far-reaching implications for ecosystems, communities, and global stability. This paper seeks to provide a holistic exploration of climate change by addressing its causes, impacts, and potential mitigation strategies. The discussion on the causes of climate change delves into the pivotal role of greenhouse gas emissions, emanating predominantly from human activities such as fossil fuel combustion, deforestation, and industrial processes. Additionally, the paper examines the impact of land use changes on climate patterns, underscoring the interconnectedness of environmental factors. Shifting focus to the impacts of climate change; the presentation highlights the undeniable rise in global temperatures, exploring regional variations and the ensuing consequences for ecosystems and human societies. The heightened frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, alongside the escalating sea levels resulting from the melting of polar ice caps, further underscore the urgency of addressing this multifaceted issue. In response to these challenges, the paper elucidates mitigation strategies that can pave the way for a sustainable future. These strategies encompass the imperative transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, afforestation, and reforestation initiatives, as well as the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices. International cooperation emerges as a key theme, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts to effect meaningful change on a global scale. KEYWORDS: Climate change, Weather, Sustainable agricultural, Renewable energy sources. 1Department of Pedagogical Sciences, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, Chennai-97.
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 82 FORMULATION OF ECO-FRIENDLY CULTURE MEDIUM FOR CULTIVATION OF Spirulina platensis S. Thadshadini1 , A. Kirisan1 and N. Gnanavelrajah1 ABSTRACT Spirulina is a type of spiral shaped, multicellular, photo autotrophic microalgae. Spirulina is a popular organism due to its high nutritional value which grows in a variety of culture media, including those containing degraded organic and inorganic minerals. It has the potential to act as a biofertilizer, nutritional additive, livestock supplement and animal feed. However, mass production of Spirulina is expensive due to the high cost of culture medium. Therefore, the present study was conducted to formulate a medium using different waste materials for the cultivation of Spirulina and assess the biomass production and nutritional content of the biomass grown in the formulated medium. Different growing media were formulated with cow dung ash, paddy husk ash and banana pseudo stem extract. Semi mass culturing was carried out in different treatments such as Control 1(100% Zarrouk’s medium- ZM), Control 2 (50% Zarrouk’s medium- ZM), T1(10% Cow dung ash- CDA), T2 (10% Paddy husk ash- PHA), T3 (10% CDA + 10% PHA), T4 (25% CDA), T5 (25% PHA), T6 (25% CDA + 25% PHA), T7 (Banana pseudostem extract- B + CDA- C + PHA- H) (BCH), T8 (10% BCH), T9 (25% BCH), T10 (50% BCH), and T11 (60% BCH). Optical density, pH, dry biomass, total nitrogen, total potassium, total phosphorus, total organic carbon, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, and total chlorophyll of Spirulina biomass were measured by using standard methods. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS University edition. The pH of culture media was increased in all treatments throughout the growing period. Control 1, Control 2 and T5 had high biomass on first harvesting, which
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 83 were 1.04 g/L, 0.90 g/L, and 0.95 g/L respectively. At the end of 30 days, 3.12 g/L of total dry biomass was obtained from T5 while the lowest was obtained from T8 and T9 as 0.62 g/L. The highest total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium of Spirulina biomass were recorded in T5 as 6.65%, 0.82% and 7.60% respectively. The highest chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids of Spirulina were recorded in control 1 (6.25 mg/L, 5.33 mg/L, 3.72 mg/L) followed by control 2 (5.84 mg/L, 3.74 mg/L, 3.70 mg/L) and T5 (5.80 mg/L, 4.59 mg/L, 3.53 mg/L). The highest total chlorophyll content was obtained from control 1 (18.78 mg/L) followed by control 2 (16.05 mg/L) and T5 (14.38 mg/L). The highest total organic carbon was obtained from T6 (38.31%) followed by T5 (34.32%). Overall results of formulated medium T5 have a high potential to produce high Spirulina biomass with higher nutrient content. This study has verified that paddy husk which is an agricultural waste could be used as an ash medium for culturing Spirulina platensis to decrease the cost of the medium without affecting the growth of Spirulina. KEYWORDS: Spirulina, Formulation, Organic medium, Cultivation, Biomass. 1,2,3 Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna, Ariviyal Nagar, Kilinochchi, Sri Lanka. * Corresponding Author: [email protected], [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India TOWARDS HEALTHY LIFE
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 85 CASE-BASED DISCUSSIONS AS A USEFUL TOOL IN CLINICAL LEARNING: A REVIEW M. Sivanjali 1 and A.N. Arulpragasam2 ABSTRACT Medical education in the 21st century is evolving more rapidly than ever before owing to the advances in technology and the needs of the people. Clinical teaching is an irreplaceable component of medical training. It takes place through many teaching–learning methodologies in various settings such as the bedside, classrooms, and the community. Case-based discussion (CBD) is a method which had been devised to fill the gaps seen in bedside teaching where learning is mostly opportunistic. The objective is to study the usefulness of CBD in clinical education. A narrative review was done to search articles on PubMed and Google Scholar between 2018 and 2023. The search terms were “case-based discussion” “clinical education” and “undergraduate medical curriculum”. A narrative review identified articles relevant to our study from 2018 to 2023 (n=11). Case-based discussions were seen as an effective and accepted learning tool by medical students. It helped them to gain clinical reasoning skills which are critical in clinical decisionmaking and management. Exposure to case-based learning scenarios, allowed them to relate basic sciences to clinical sciences. Students were able to recollect the concepts that they had learnt by correlating them with case scenarios in a stress-free environment enhancing their critical thinking abilities. CBDs were delivered face-to-face in a classroom or an online mode. When engaging in CBDs students learned actively, became responsible for their peers’ learning, developed team spirit, and interpersonal skills, and took ownership in their learning process. In conclusion, the CBD
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 86 method was perceived as a good learning tool by students. It is possible to combine CBD with other traditional clinical teaching methods such as bedside teaching. The CBD learning approach promotes recapitulating the basic concepts learned, relating them to a clinical scenario that results in the consolidation of the concepts. Therefore, incorporating CBD into medical curricula would be beneficial. KEYWORDS: Case-based discussion (CBD), Clinical teaching and learning, Clinical reasoning, COVID-19, Medical Education. 1,2 Faculty of Health-care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 87 A DESCRIPTION OF THYROID CANCER HISTOLOGY SUBTYPES OVER 10 YEAR PERIOD FROM 2011-2020 AT TEACHING HOSPITAL BATTICALOA Y.V. Hendavitharana1 , K.H.N.S.P Bandara1 , A.R.M Sanooz 2,* and P. Mayurathan 2,3 ABSTRACT Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant disease in endocrine system and is rapidly increasing in incidence worldwide. Currently it is the 2nd most common cancer among Sri Lankan women. Differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) includes papillary and follicular types which are the commonest thyroid cancers and show a better prognosis. Medullary and anaplastic types of thyroid cancers are other histological types with poor prognosis. The prevalence of these different types thyroid cancer hasn’t been studied at Batticaloa region. The objective of the study was to describe the thyroid cancer histology subtypes among thyroid cancer patients reported at Teaching Hospital Batticaloa (THB). This retrospective descriptive study was carried out based on cancer database at histopathological unit THB. Study included 235 thyroid histology reports from 1st of January 2011 to 31st of December 2020. Permission for collecting data was obtained from the Director, THB. Ethical clearance for the study was obtained from Ethical Clearance Committee, Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Results of this study had 83.8% (N=197) of females and 16.2% (N=38) of males. In both genders, the commonest histological type was papillary (n = 155, 66%) followed by follicular (n = 60, 25.5%), medullary (n = 15, 6.4%), anaplastic (n = 5, 2.1%) within the 10-year period. Each year papillary cancer was the most prevalent type except 2013, where the follicular type was commonest. Follicular type was the second commonest
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 88 type during the 10-year period except 2013, 2014 and 2020. In 2013 the papillary type was the second commonest and in 2014 and 2020, medullary cancer was noticed in second place. Anaplastic type was the least reported during each year and wasn’t noticed during 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019 and 2020. Males had no reported cases of anaplastic cancer during the 10- year period. All three histology types were more prevalent in the age groups between 15-59 years old (84.68% n=199). The peak number (37.02%, n=87) was noticed between 30-44 years old. Anaplastic cancer was noticed between 30-74 years old and its peak (60% of anaplastic cancer, n=3) was noticed among 60-74 years old females. In conclusion the most prevalent types of thyroid carcinoma reported at THB belongs to DTC. But there were considerable number of medullary types with certain peaks during 2014 and 2020 and a few cases of anaplastic type during the 10-year period. There was no fixed trend identified in the prevalence of different histological types during the 10-year period. This study identifies and recommends that the virulent types of thyroid cancers such as medullary and anaplastic types are considerably prevalent at Batticaloa region or Eastern Sri Lanka. This requires early detection, proper health education to the public to prevent the worst prognosis of these types of cancers. KEYWORDS: Thyroid cancer histological subtype, Follicular, Papillary, Medullary, Anaplastic. 1,2 Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 2,3 Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 89 A REVIEW ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SIMULATION-BASED LEARNING IN NURSING EDUCATION M.A.F. Sihnas1,* , S. Sujendran2 and T. Sathaananthan1 ABSTRACT Nursing education involves skill-based education where the students apply theoretical knowledge in practice. In this context, Simulation-Based Learning helps the students to fill the theory-practice gap. Simulation refers to an active learning strategy that mimics the characteristics of a real-life environment. It helps healthcare professionals to practice clinical skills and apply theoretical knowledge in a safe environment without compromising the patient’s safety. It provides a unique opportunity for the students to enrich their critical thinking, decision-making ability, confidence, and communication skills. The objective was to explore the effectiveness of simulation-Based Learning in Nursing Education. Accordingly an integrative review was done to find the effectiveness of Simulation-Based Learning in Nursing Education from various studies. Google Scholar and PubMed databases were searched for eligible publications. The search was restricted between 2018 to 2023. The term “effectiveness of simulation in nursing education” was used to search the relevant data. Most of the studies’ findings revealed that simulation is an effective teaching-learning strategy for fostering the clinical skills of nursing students. It allows the students to rehearse and gain skills in the safest environment. Further, it increases the self-confidence of the students as they can practice the clinical skills without worry. The lack of resources, poorly trained educators, and dissatisfaction among the students and teachers are some limitations to incorporating Simulation-Based Learning in curricula. The successful integration of
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 90 simulation-Based Learning in the nursing curriculum has a positive impact on nursing students’ performance. Staff readiness and student satisfaction are important factors in implementing simulation in higher education. Regular assessment of the simulation techniques, staff readiness, and student satisfaction need to be done to ensure the effectiveness of Simulation-Based Learning. KEYWORDS: Active Learning, Nursing Education, Nursing students, Simulation, Teaching-Learning method. 1Department of Medical Education and Research, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 2Department of Supplementary Health Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 91 PREVALENCE AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG PATIENTS WITH CORONARY HEART DISEASE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY K. Karthijekan1*and K. Arulnithy2 ABSTRACT Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing coronary heart disease (CHD), is the leading cause of cardiac-associated mortality worldwide. Inadequate physical activity is common among patients with CHD. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and the associated factors of physical activity among patients with CHD attended cardiac clinic, Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. Data on socio-demographic and clinical characteristics and physical activity were collected from 160 patients with CHD in 2021. Ethical approval was obtained from ethics review committee, Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. Physical activity level was collected using validated International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 based on the aim of the study and the p-value less than 0.5 was considered as significant. The criteria mentioned in the IPAQ scoring protocol was used to calculate the daily and weekly metabolic equivalents of a task (MET) for each individual. Thus, the scores were presented as MET-minutes per week. The IPAQ protocol classified the physical activity level in three categories namely low (METminutes/week <599), moderate (MET-minutes/week between 600 and 2,999), and high physical activity level (MET-minutes/week ≥ 3,000). Chisquare test was used to analyze the association between level of physical activity and socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. A total of 186
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 92 patients with CHD were screened for their eligibility, of these 160 were included. About two-thirds of the patients were male (75.6%) and Tamils (66.2%) with a mean age of 54.65 (±8.08) years old (ranging from 31 to 64). Majority of the participants had at least primary education (98.0%), were working (81.9%), were married (99.0%), had a monthly income of more than 15,000.00 (82.0%), and had CHD with a minimum 1-year duration (85.0%). About one-third of the participants did not perform adequate physical activity. The total physical activity for the participants was 5362.05 ± 3360.28 MET-minutes per week. Participants poorly engaged in vigorous physical activity with a mean of 745.7 (1359.52) MET-minutes per week. The MET minutes for walking were 1424.67 ± 1188.72. Factors, such as gender, employment status, monthly family income and duration of having CHD were associated with physical activity. The physical activities were inadequate among this population. Therefore, educational program need to be conducted to raise awareness on physical activity and future research has to be focused on identifying the barriers and facilitators for engaging in adequate physical activity among this population. KEYWORDS: Coronary heart disease, Factors, Hospital, Physical activity, Prevalence. 1* Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. 2 Cardiac Unit, Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding author : [email protected] or [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 93 PREVALENCE ANAEMIA AMONG PREGNANT MOTHERS ATTENDING THE ANTENATAL CLINIC IN TEACHING HOSPITAL BATTICALOA, SRI LANKA V.M. Deshabandu1 , F.J. Junaideen1 , H.K. Wanasinghe1 , S.S. Wellage1 and K.E. Karunakaran1,* ABSTRACT Anaemia in pregnancy is a condition with significant morbidity and mortality. Iron deficiency is the recognized cause. The economic crisis experiencing from the recent past, appear to have the impact on the nutritional status of the pregnant women. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia among the pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinics in Teaching Hospital Batticaloa, Sri Lanka in relation to sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics. Descriptive study was conducted among the pregnant women attending the Ante natal clinics at Teaching Hospital, Batticaloa Sri Lanka in the year 2022. A pilot tested questionnaire was used and descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. 255 pregnant women participated. 98 (38.43%) had anaemia. Significant correlation of anaemia was found with educational level of the women and the period of amenorrhoea. Anaemia was more prevalent among those with low family income. Notable was over half (51.11%) of women under 20 years of age and 22.73% of women in the first trimester were anaemic. The prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women is considerably high. Women with primary level education and in third trimester are at high risk. Taking into consideration of the studies in other districts, the iron deficiency status of the women is a generalized situation and the dire need to address in the present economically compromised era. KEYWORDS: Pregnancy, Iron deficiency, Amenorrhoea, Nutrition. 1 Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 94 ASSESSMENT OF ACTIVE PHYTOCHEMICALS AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITY OF Jeffreycia zeylanica: AN INDIGENOUS PLANT ENDEMIC TO SRI LANKA. T.M.K.P. Thennakoon1 *, N.M.N. Ruwanthi1 , A.V.A.P. Vitharama1 , H.G.H. Lakshani1 and K.P.N.G. Kanuwana1 ABSTRACT Jeffreycia zeylanica (J. zeylanica) commonly referred to as “Pupula”, is an endemic plant to Sri Lanka. It shows a native distribution in the dry-wet zone. It has been used in the past for medicinal purposes such as treatment for asthma, snake bites, wounds, fractures, ulcers, hemorrhoids, cysts, food poisoning and gout. The objectives of this study are to determine phytochemicals and cytotoxic activity against brine shrimps of shoot and root parts of J. zeylanica of hexane and ethanol extracts respectively. Plant was collected from “Ginthota”, southern province, Sri Lanka. Dried under shade and subjected to mechanical grinding and fine powder was obtained. Extracted by soxhlet method along with hexane and ethanol solvents. Crude extracts were obtained by the rotary evaporator. Crude extracts were subjected to secondary metabolites screening. Hexane and ethanol extracts of the shoot and root part of plant were subjected to cytotoxic activity against brine shrimps. Phytochemicals were screened qualitatively. Study revealed the presence of glycosides, alkaloids flavonoids, and terpenoids while the absence of tannins and saponins of the hexane extract. Ethanol extract showed the presence of all the secondary metabolites. The brine shrimp lethality assay was done by using a series of concentration to determine the LC50 value. Hexane extract of J. zeylanica shoot showed a LC50 value of 2015.7 µL/mL and root showed a lethality of 1693.8 µL/mL. Similarly, ethanol extract of shoot showed a LC50 value of 1514.2 µL/mL
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 95 and root showed a lethality of 1863.1 µL/mL. Hexane extract’s cytotoxicity of shoot part is less than the root part. Similarly, the root part of ethanol extract shows less cytotoxicity compared to shoot part. The calculated LC50 values for all extracts in this study exceed the threshold of 1000 µg/mL, indicating a non-toxic profile for both shoot and root extracts on the tested shrimps. KEYWORDS: Lethality, Medicinal value, Native plant, Secondary metabolites. 1Department of Indigenous Medical Resources, Faculty of Indigenous Health Sciences and Technology, Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Kandy Road, Yakkala, Sri Lanka.. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 96 FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH WORK-RELATED STRESS AMONG GOVERNMENT NURSES WORKING IN DISTRICT GENERAL HOSPITAL, NUWARA ELIYA, SRI LANKA D.M.K.L. Dissanayaka1 and M.P. Dissanayake1 ABSTRACT Nursing is a demanding profession that requires individuals to provide highquality care to patients while managing their own physical and emotional health. Work-related stress among nurses can have negative impacts on both the nurses and the patients they care for. The present study aimed to examine the level of stress among nurses and identify the factors that contribute to work-related stress. This study used quantitative research method, a crosssectional research design to collect data. The convenience sampling method used to select the participants for the study and the sample consisted of 189 nursing officers who work in intensive care units, operation theatre, pediatric, medical, surgical, oncology, maternity and psychiatric units of District General Hospital – Nuwara Eliya. The Nursing Stress Scale which includes seven subscales assessing nurses’ stress and related factors such as death and dying, conflict with physician, inadequate preparation, lack of support, conflict with other nurses, workload and uncertainty concerning treatment was used to collect data from participants. Results revealed that inward nursing officers in the District General Hospital, Sri Lanka had a high prevalence of moderate work-related stress. In addition, 27% of Nurses were having mild stress, 72% of Nurses were having moderate stress and 1% nurses were having severe stress. Death and dying of patients (M = 8.8, SD = 2.8) and workload (M = 8.2, SD = 2.3) were the leading factors to their work related stress among nurses. Gender, marital status or work experiences did not
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 97 significantly impact on work-related stress among nurses. Developing systems for establishing and facilitating effective coping strategies among nurses, and awareness and monitoring programs are key strategies to overcome work-related stress among nurses. Therefore, it is recommended that supporting mechanisms should be formulated by policymakers and be implemented by the hospital authorities to overcome these issues. KEYWORDS: Work-related stress, Nurses, Health care, Mental health. 1The Open University of Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 98 PERCEPTIONS ON HOLISTIC PRIMARY CARE FOR NONCOMMUNICABLE DISEASES AMONG RESIDENTS IN THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY PROJECT AREA, BATTICALOA K. Arulanandem1 , G. Pragasan1 *, H.M.T.P. Herath1 , N. Shobana1 and G. Jigashalja1 ABSTRACT Globally, there is a rising prevalence of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among adults. Primary care delivers comprehensive, coordinated, continued and cost-effective care for most of the NCDs. Holistic healthcare is complete or total patient care that considers the physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs of the person, his or her response to illness and the effect of the illness on the ability to meet self-care needs. Opportunistic health promotion on lifestyle modifications is widely undertaken in primary care settings. However, there is a considerable disparity in perception among public in primary and secondary as well as other care services. Thus, present study was aimed to explore perception on holistic primary care for NonCommunicable Diseases among residents in University Community Project Area, Faculty of Health Care Sciences (FHCS), Eastern University, Sri Lanka (EUSL). A community based qualitative study was conducted using grounded theory among purposively selected residents aged 18-50 years in the university community project area of FHCS. Twelve focus group discussions were held. A semi-structured focus group discussion guide was used to explore perception on holistic primary care for NCDs. Each discussion lasted about 45 minutes and recorded using a voice recorder. Data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. There were seventytwo participants with 40 males and 32 females. Majority of the residents did not have the proper understanding of holistic care of NCDs in Primary care
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 99 settings. Two main themes were derived: ‘perceived low quality of NCD care at primary care settings’ and ‘lack of lifestyle modifications in primary care’. Furthermore, two subthemes, ‘Unawareness of the primary care services for NCDs at primary care institutions’ and ‘popularity of secondary and tertiary care for NCDs’ were derived under the first theme. We concluded that the residents in the university community project area having poor understanding about the services available at the primary care hospital and continuity of care between different levels of hospitals. Services for behavior modifications at the primary care hospitals need to be improved. KEYWORDS: Healthy lifestyle, holistic care, Non-Communicable Diseases, Primary Health Care. 1 Faculty of Health-Care Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 100 ANALYSIS OF HEART SOUNDS USING AI TO DETECT HEART DISEASES Sathyanarayayan Swaminathan1,* , Srikanta Murthy1 , Chandrashekar Gudada1 , Satish Kumar Mallappa1 and Neeraj Ail1 ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence (AI) has been applied in several domains, including online commerce, finance, insurance, manufacturing, and education. The healthcare sector has also been impacted by AI, and studies on the implementation of AI in several healthcare domains, including radiology, diabetic retinopathy, robotic surgery, and population health management are being pursued vigorously. The integration of AI in healthcare will enable advancements in disease detection and diagnosis and make healthcare more accessible to all sections of the population by making it quicker, more effective, and cheaper. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of mortality worldwide. Approximately 1% of children are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). If detected at an early stage, there is a high probability that the patient will be treated successfully and will lead a normal life. One area where AI has shown great potential is the analysis of phonocardiograms, that is, recordings of heart sounds, for detecting heart diseases. This could result in the replacement of the stethoscope used by doctors because it is highly subjective. Our study focused on the analysis of heart sounds using various machine learning and deep learning techniques. Two dataset combinations were used. The first combination of datasets consists of two categories: normal and abnormal. The second combination comprised normal heart sounds and heart sounds belonging to different categories of heart diseases. We extracted a novel combination of audio features that were then
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 101 used as input for multiple supervised ML and DL techniques for classification. The accuracy obtained was above 90%. The integration of AI with medical devices is the way forward to enable quicker response and smaller, cheaper, effective, and reliable systems, and hence make healthcare accessible to the underserved segments of the population. It can transform several aspects of healthcare. KEYWORDS: Artificial intelligence, Cardiovascular diseases, Phonocardiogram, Machine learning, Deep learning, Healthcare. 1 Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, Gulbarga, Karnataka, India. *Corresponding Author: [email protected]
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 102 EFFECT OF HEALTHCARE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN AND TREATMENT ON DENTAL FLUOROSIS IN ENHANCING SCHOLASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG SCHOOL STUDENTS K. Anbu1 and K. Anandan2 ABSTRACT This Study explores elementary education in the areas with Dental Fluorosis (DF). DF is a condition caused by an excessive intake of fluorides in drinking water, characterized mainly be mottling of the enamel of Teeth. Avoiding the drinking water with fluoride and implementing a nutritionally rich diet with calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and antioxidants can prevent this condition. Scholastic Achievement is the performance of a student in all the subjects put together. Many Researches revealed that the students with DF living in endemic fluorosis area are having mental retardation and scholastic backwardness. The DF is caused by the ingestion of excess of fluoride over a long period surpassing the guideline value of World Health Organization for Fluoride. The sample selected for the experimental study was purposive Random sampling and so, the study is an experimental research. The experiment involved 30 primary school students each in Control (Melerikottai – Area) and Experimental (Agasipalli – Area) groups. Pre-tests and post-tests were conducted on a Healthcare Awareness Campaign (HCA) regarding DF treatment and scholastic achievements for both control and experimental groups. Post-tests conducted after four months revealed significant benefits for the experimental group, highlighting the potential reduction in fluoride levels by opting the drinking water without fluoride and avoiding ground water. Additionally, implementing a nutritionally rich diet with calcium, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and antioxidants for students in endemic fluorosis areas found to be a key strategy. KEYWORDS: Dental Fluorosis, endemic fluorosis, health care awareness, intervention, mental retardation, nutrition, scholastic achievement. 1K.M.College of Education, Krishnagiri – 635 001, Tamilnadu, India. 2Dept. of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sri Sathiya Sai University of Human Excellence, Navanihal-585313, Kalaburagi, Karnataka State, India. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India HUMANITY AND SOCIETY
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 105 AN INVESTIGATION OF THE INTERPLAY BETWEEN SLEEP, HAPPINESS, AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN SRI LANKAN YOUNG ADULTS: UNRAVELING THE MODERATING ROLE OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHICS U.M. Mahinagoda1 and M.P. Dissanayake2 ABSTRACT Sleep is a fundamental element of human existence that profoundly influences overall well-being. Sleep-related issues are highly prevalent and are especially high in young adults. Nevertheless, the association between sleep and key well-being indicators, particularly happiness and life satisfaction, remains relatively underexplored. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the association between sleep quality, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction in Sri Lankan young adults. Additionally, it delves into the moderating effect of socio-demographic factors namely, student status, gender, marital status, and family economic status on these associations. Quantitative research method was employed in this study, and data collection was carried out both online and onsite. The sample consisted of 450 Sri Lankan young adults aged between 18 and 30 years; 35% of the participants were male and 65% female, and less than 1% identified as 'other.' A self-response questionnaire was employed to collect data. Sleep quality, subjective happiness, and life satisfaction were measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Subjective Happiness Scale, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Spearman correlation and Z score analysis were conducted to investigate the possible associations between variables. Correlational analysis revealed a moderate positive correlation between sleep quality and subjective happiness, as well as sleep quality and life satisfaction. Significantly, the study revealed that student status and family economic
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 106 status moderate the relationships between sleep quality and subjective happiness and between sleep quality and life satisfaction, respectively. However, no significant variations were observed based on gender or marital status, indicating a consistent impact of sleep on the well-being of both males and females, as well as married and unmarried individuals. This research underscores the pivotal role of healthy sleep habits in shaping overall happiness and life satisfaction. Furthermore, it emphasizes the necessity of tailoring interventions for non-student populations and those with lower income levels, as these two demographic segments are more impacted than others. KEYWORDS: Sleep quality, Subjective happiness, Life satisfaction, Mental well-being. 1,2 The Open University Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 107 THE EFFECTS OF MICRO-LEVEL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS ON CHILDREN’S ADJUSTMENT PROBLEMS: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL M.P. Dissanayake ABSTRACT Parent-child interaction plays a vital role in children’s social adjustment. Early parent-child attachment affects the nature of children’s interactions with others from infancy to adulthood. This process of attachment development leads to develop secure emotional bond between the child and the parent. In this process, factors related to parents as well as children reciprocally impact on each other’s’ emotionality and their behavior. Parents’ sensitivity, responsiveness, beliefs and expectations about parenting and children development are some factors that influence parents during their interaction with children. Children’s temperament can be another influential factor during their interactions. Qualities of parents and children, as well as the nature of their interaction contribute children’s development. During their interactive process, micro-level moment-to-moment interactions seem to affect many aspects of child development. Moment-to-moment micro-level social interactions may lead to antisocial and aggressive behavior. According to Coercion Theory, the way parents provide repeated opportunities for children would increase the likelihood of developing aggressive or antisocial behaviors. These moment-to-moment interactions may influence both parents and children bidirectionally. The proposed model intends to examine the patterns of moment-to-moment social interactions that would lead to negative emotionality in both parents and children and specific behavior patterns in children. This conceptual model suggests the way parents react
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 108 during social interactions affect children’s behavior. When children experience negative maternal consequences repeatedly, it can affect children to behave in a certain way that would create a stressful atmosphere during their social interaction. This may cause increasing stress and frustration in parents and negative emotionality and irritability/anger in children. It may lead aversive or aggressive reactions in children during their social interaction and repeated experiences of such behaviors may increase the likelihood of developing antisocial and aggression in later life. KEYWORDS: Micro-level social interactions, Adjustment problems, Parenting, Child development. 1 The Open University Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 109 SPIRITUALITY OF TODAY'S UNDERGRADUATE CHRISTIAN YOUTHS IN SRI LANKA A. Augustine Navaretnam* ABSTRACT Every religion has its spirituality. Likewise, every individual has his/her spirituality. Defining what spirituality is all about is an arduous task. It is everywhere yet nowhere; its scope is vast, and, in a way, it is the sum and depth of all human experience. This study focuses on the spirituality of Christian youths, particularly Tamil-speaking youths in Sri Lanka. It aims to understand their beliefs about God and supernatural beings and how they respond to God in their own lives. The research is based on a quantitative survey among tertiary and undergraduate students, who were all Christians. The questionnaire was formulated in Tamil to reach Tamil-speaking students easily. The literature review highlights the need for spirituality and religious experience in an individual's life. Previous studies show that youth grow in their belief in God and other supernatural beings. A balanced spirituality comprises holistic and wholistic human growth, including personal relationships with God, interpersonal relationships with others, and interaction with the public and political sphere. Over 90% of respondents have certified their belief in God. However, there are indications of a decline in belief among today's youth. Life experiences and events play a vital role in determining the presence of God in their lives. The study points out the clash between traditional spiritualities of Christian denominations and the spirituality of today's youth. Proper guidelines and accompaniment should be ensured to overcome this situation, rather than comparing youths with certain yardsticks. The purpose of spirituality is to bring peace of mind, soul, and
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 110 body. Today's youth are rooted in the triple spirituality of personal relationship with God, interpersonal relationships with neighbors, and moral realms of the public sphere. Accompaniment in their journey of spirituality is vital for their holistic growth. KEYWORDS: Beliefs, God, Supernatural beings, Relationship & Accompaniment. Faculty of Arts & Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 111 PREVALENCE OF ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION, SMOKING, AND DEPRESSION AMONG TRAFFIC POLICE OFFICERS IN KANDY POLICE N.W.M.K.G. Nawarathna1 and M.P. Dissanayake2 ABSTRACT Traffic police officers are critical to road safety and public order, yet their demanding profession carries significant mental and physical health risks. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of alcohol consumption, smoking, and depression among traffic police officers in Kandy, Sri Lanka. It further explored the potential relationships between these variables. Alcohol consumption and smoking were investigated as independent variables, while depression served as the dependent variable. The present study used a quantitative research method and data was gathered using Convenience sampling method at the participants' working environment. The study used self-report approach to obtain information from respondents, by administering three validated scales translated into Sinhala language: The Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND). Ethical clearance was obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the Open University of Sri Lanka and administrative approval was obtained from the Kandy Traffic Police Division before commencing data collection. Results revealed a concerning 28% prevalence of depression, representing a significant increase compared to the 22.8% reported in a previous study in 2016 by Wickramasinghe and team. A remarkable 79% of officers reported consuming alcohol, ranging from low risk drinking to potential dependence. Additionally, 22% of officers reported some level of smoking, with 11% exhibiting high-level smoking behavior.
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 112 Furthermore, a modest to moderate positive correlation was observed between depression and alcohol consumption, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to address both mental health and substance use issues within this population. In conclusion, the study found the prevalence of depression, alcohol consumption, and smoking among traffic police officers in the Kandy traffic police division is higher. Interventions aimed at supporting maintaining a healthy mental state, and healthy lifestyle by reducing alcohol consumption and smoking in traffic police officers should be considered. KEYWORDS: Traffic police officers, Alcohol consumption, Smoking, Depression, Mental health. 1,2 The Open University of Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 113 “THE IMPACTS OF WOMEN’S MIGRATION AMONG COMMUNITY IN UPCOUNTRY” (THE RESEARCH BASED ON THE DIVISIONAL SECRETARIAT OF NUWARA ELIYA IN TAMIL UPCOUNTRY COMMUNITY) R. Devendran ABSTRACT The migration of women abroad as maids is an ongoing phenomenon in Sri Lanka. In terms of Sri Lanka's economic structure, the contribution of women who have migrated abroad as maids is significant. It is noteworthy that the country's economy has been sustained for several decades through the foreign exchange brought to Sri Lanka by them, which contributes to the country's economic growth. The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment calculates that 61,489 women went abroad for domestic work in 2019, a number that dropped to 15,388 in 2020, and then inched up to 25,763 in 2021. Based on that, the purpose of this research is to identify the primary causes affecting the migration of women as workers to the Middle East and other countries among the Tamil communities in Sri Lanka's Upcountry, as well as the social and other impacts of their migration. The primary goal of the research is to figure out the impacts of women migration, particularly on the development of children, the women and the family. Based on that the study focused on “The Impacts of women’s migration among community in Upcountry”. The study focused the divisional secretariat as objective sampling, with five Niladhari section in Nuwara- Eliya, has been discussed as facilitation sampling in this research and also the women of the research area were selected random sampling. According to the research problem the
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 114 researcher examines the current impacts of women’s migration to abroad as maids and the classic recommendation to responsible officials. Questionnaire, Interview and discussion are the data collection tools used for this study. Data collection is both primary and secondary sources mixed research method used to continue the research effetely. Finally, the overall research conducted by both qualitative and quantitative data analysis with mixed research method and this is indicated the family structure of migrate women’s, reasons for migrating, children’s protection, social impacts and other major impacts. According to the findings and recommendation were indicated to the overall study. KEYWORDS: Migration, Women in Upcountry, Effects, Economics. Early Childhood & Primary Education, Faculty of Education, The Open University of Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 115 EXPLORING MUSLIM CONTRIBUTIONS TO BRITISH ADMINISTRATION IN THE DISTRICT OF BATTICALOA Nilanthini Chenthurran ABSTRACT The Muslims of Sri Lanka were merely a cultural and business community without a politically motivated separate ethnic identity until the end of the 19th century (Nuhman, 2002). In the Eastern province, Tamils constituted a substantial and prominent ethnic group, totaling 125,408 individuals, and the Muslims were recognized as a significant trading community, comprising 43,001 individuals (John Ferguson, 1884). When the Portuguese arrived in Ceylon, the seaports on all parts of the coast were virtually in the hands of the Moors (Tennent, 1999). However, during the British period, Muslims played integral roles in the administrative sector in the District of Batticaloa. This study examines the contributions of Muslims to the British administration in the district of Batticaloa. However, it remains unclear whether they contributed under British administration, who was involved, and in which divisions they played major roles. Based on these inquiries, a research gap emerges in this subject. The vast literature on the history of Muslims in Batticaloa exists; however, there is a lack of in-depth research on Muslim contributions to the British administration based on colonial records, focusing on the Batticaloa district within the timeframe of 1796 to 1948. Therefore, this research employs a historical methodology and a qualitative approach, utilizing primary and secondary sources. In conclusion, the Moor community played roles as Vanniyas and Udaiyas in their administrative division and were represented as members of the Village Committee, Durbar of Tamil Chiefs, Urban district council, Sanitary Inspector, Police Headman,
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 116 Vaddai Vitan, Proctor, and Notary. Therefore, Muslims were not only involved in trading but also in the administrative sector. However, compared to administrators in the Tamil community, their numbers were fewer in the administrative occupation. KEYWORDS: British, Moor, Colonial administration, Trade. Department of History, Faculty of Arts and Culture, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 117 A SHIFT TOWARDS MANIFEST IDENTITY, INTENTIONAL CULTURAL ASSIMILATION AND THE PERTURBED WORLDVIEW OF COASTAL VEDDHA PEOPLE IN EASTERN SRI LANKA G. Vickneswaran . ABSTRACT This study focused on coastal Veddha communities of Vaharai division in Batticaloa and their struggle in escaping the indigenous identity. it is observed that indigenous people are in identity crisis since they could not entirely succeed in changing or escaping their indigenous identity. Veddha people in the region have experienced varying degrees of disruption with regard to their traditional life style and worldview. Veddha people began to lose their identity as the perturbed worldview caused by the discontinuity of the connection between natural, human, and spiritual realms reduced their social consciousness and commitments of the Veddha people. However, they didn’t fully integrate themselves into mainstream culture as they continue to maintain certain indigenous cultural aspects which appear to them essential to their survival in the ecology. This leads to the identity dilemma for Veddha people. The overall objective of the study is to investigate the nexus between the identity formation and worldview of indigenous people. This descriptive study is based on phenomenological methodology and relied on qualitative method. Interviews and focus group discussions are main tools of primary data collection. Coastal Veddas took intentional measures to relinquish their aboriginal identity and thus purposefully avoid maintaining material aspects of their Vedda culture. However, they haven’t given up their cultural tradition. The study found that their original cultural aspects are associated with their nature and survival of the ecology in which they grew and
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 118 continue to live. In cultural ecological perspective, since they did not change the nature, they cannot entirely get rid of their cultural components of life there. In anthropology, worldview is conceptually understood in relation to culture. Their worldview has been altered by the modern worldview. However, Veddha communities continue to hold some aspects of their traditional culture which essentially required and associated with their survival in the ecology. Therefore, two different confronting values of culture intercept the worldview of Veddha people. It leads to identity confusion among them. Their assimilated culture is not now consistent with the oldest view of their nature. The new values are confronted with their spiritual belief. The confronted realities between culture, nature and supernature brought about contested identities among Veddha people in relation to their worldview. When new values assimilate with the existing traditional values of culture, it should be adapted in consistent with the nature and accommodated into the realm of its supernature, since it affects the worldview of the community people who lived with the common sense of identity. If the process is not properly modified or managed by the community itself or other interventions, people have different confronted worldviews which result at identity crisis of the community. KEYWORDS: Indigenous people, Identity, Culture, Assimilation and Worldview. Dept. of Social Sciences, Eastern University, Sri Lanka. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 119 IMPACT OF MEDITATION ON EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE AND SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING AMONG MEDITATORS B. Shanthini ABSTRACT Human encounters an array of emotions from happiness to sadness and extreme joy to depression. Each of these emotions creates a different reaction within the body and secretes different types of hormones which affect both physical and mental well-being. Good changes can be just as stressful as bad changes. Initially the researcher felt it is important to recognize the causes of emotions and understanding the reasons for such emotions for which selfawareness plays a crucial role. To create awareness on emotional well-being meditation was considered right choice and the researcher felt the need of the present study. For the present study, the universe comprised of meditators in Erode District, Tamilnadu, India. The research study covers a universe with infinite population and so the sample size was calculated through the pilot study. A pilot study was conducted among 40 meditators to get the value of standard deviation. The reliability of the enquiry schedule and individual items in it were tested with the help of Cronbach’s alpha. The value of alpha is larger than 0.70 and hence factors considered was reliable for further study. The sampling units were selected by covering the meditators in all six taluks of Erode. The sample size was 727 respondents. These samples were selected by the researchers from those who have been meditating for minimum eight weeks. Both primary and secondary data are used in the study. For collecting primary data, field survey technique was employed. The samples were collected based on stratified random sampling method. The study describes emotional intelligence and subjective well-being of the
International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research (ICMR 2024) Eastern University, Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University, India, and ESN Publications, India 120 meditators and hence it is descriptive research. The study has made extensive use factor analysis and structural equation modelling to assess the impact of meditation on emotional intelligence and subjective well-being among meditators. It was found from the analysis that the impact of meditation on emotional intelligence increases, the meditators subjective well-being characteristics like achievers, charismatics, diplomatic, progressive and optimistic thinkers and delighters are also increases. On the other hand, the level of increasing emotional intelligence increases, the meditators’ subjective well-being characteristics like satisfaction in meditation life, charismatics, diplomatic, progressive and optimistic thinkers and delighters are also increasing in Erode district. The study has concluded that all the facets of emotional intelligence are seen to play a very important role in categorizing the arenas of emotional intelligence among the meditators in erode district. The study contributes to the emerging field of subjective wellbeing not only from theoretical but also from meditation practitioners’ perspective in the study area. Future study can be conducted for examining to what extent emotional intelligence level increases through various meditations among the doctors in various geographical location in India and to what extent the meditation practice support to handle the work life balance and work -family conflict. KEYWORDS: Meditation, Emotional Intelligence, Subjective Well-Being, Meditators, Structural Equation Modelling. PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu, India. *Corresponding Author: [email protected].