PURSE 2001

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    Analytic philosophy: A brief appraisal
    (University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2001-11-16) Kalansuriya, A. D. P.
    Analytic philosophers identify the very subject of Philosophy with an analysis of words, terms, notions, expressions, statements, etc.. Wittgenstein gave a new impulse to analytic philosophy with the radiant notion, namely, "A main source of our failure to understand is that we do not command a clear view of the use of words." This is a clear recognition of human failure together with a committed estimate of the ability to engineer solutions for problems that have befallen the best brain since the Greeks. "A clear view of the use of words." But, then, what does it mean? One has to note the nature of the discourse, that of the doctrine, that of the argument, etc. (to which Wittgenstein says 'language game') in which it finds expression that is its original home, in which alone it meaning. Two conclusions follow (i) that confusions, which occupy us do not arise. (ii) which are already there, can be dispelled. The implication being a therapeutic one reminds of a prescription for doing philosophy. That is, putting the word in its linguistic context and whole statement in its native context. But, then, how does one do this? By accepting and mastering analytic techniques. The resuIt: To bring words back from their metaphysical to everyday usage (L Wittgenstein, 'Phylosophical Investigations, 1953: 48e), implying that metaphysics does not have a logic of its own whereas other discourses have a logic of their own. Implied are "chains of reasoning" or "forms of life" in all discourses other than 'philosophy'; for 'philosophy' is not a discourse an analytic activity. Based on this concept of "chains of reasoning," one sees not only the nature of the discourse--science, religion, aesthetics, etc. but also the limits pertaining to 'truth' or 'falsity' of statements that come within first-order disciplines. This brings out the very base of Analytic phylosophy understood and practiced in the English-speaking world as a second-order discipline.
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    Anatomical variations in common an external carotid arteries in Sri Lankans - A preliminary study
    (University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2001-11-16) Banneheka, B. M. H. S. K.; Vithanaarachchi, C.; Nanayakkara, C. D.
    Carotid arteries are the main sources of blood to the structures in the head and neck region. Normally, the right and left Common Carotid arteries differ in origin and length, they persue a similar course and distribution after being divided into External and Internal carotid arteries in the neck. The normal course and distribution of these arteries has been studied and well documented. Although some of the anatomical variations in these structures have been identified and reported earlier, such data is available only for western populations. During this study, the origin, course and the level of bifurcation of the common carotid arteries, branching pattern and important relations of the external carotid arteries and the diameters of these vessels at different anatomical levels were looked into while special attention was paid to identify the anatomical variations. Although it is not possible to draw any final conclusions, the results of this preliminary study shows that anatomical variations of common external carotid arteries are relatively common among the Sri Lankans. Higher or lower bifurcation and unusually tortuous course of common carotids and several variations in the course and branching pattern of external carotids, which were found during the study, are reported here.
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    Anatomy and categorization of pegmatites around Moragahakanda area
    (University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2001-11-16) Pitawala, A.
    Pegmatitic occurrences are commonly observed in the proposed Moragahakanda- reservoir area. Most of them are characterized by economically important minerals such as quartz, feldspar and mica. At present, some pegmatites are mined for needs of the industry and there is a surplus of raw materials. As a result, there has not been any serious attempt to determine the extent and distribution of pegmatites. Three types of pegmatite occurrences, which are genetically different from each other, are observed. The older occurrences formed perhaps due to metamorphic events contain coarse to very coarse grains (up to few ern) of quartz and feldspar as major minerals and amphibole and mica as accessory minerals. They are smaller light coloured bodies several meters in length. On the other hand, dark coloured pegmatites are characterized by coarse to very coarse grains (up to several em) of pyroxene, amphibole and mica and they are occasionally associated with dykes of pyroxenite. They occur as bands parallel to the general trend of surrounding metamorphic rocks. The mineralogical composition and the filed relationship suggest that these bodies had formed at greater depths, perhaps subsequent to a metamorphic event. However, younger, strongly zoned pegmatites may have been formed at shallow depths. They are mainly made up of mega size crystals (up to several meters) of quartz and feldspar. The minor mineral constituent of the bodies is mica. Fluorite, tourmaline and opaque minerals occur as accessory minerals.
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    Antibotic resistance of organisms isolated form clinical cases at the microbiological diagnostic labortory
    (University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2001-11-16) Panawala, P. V. S.; Wijewardana, T. G.; De Alwis, M. C. L.
    Antibiotics are used as therapeutic as well as prophylactic measures in livestock industries and pet animal clinics. Use of antibiotics without any restrictions or rationale has led to serious problems such as drug resistance and hypersensitivity in the human population. The antibiotic sensitivity pattern of causative organisms isolated from specimens submitted to the microbiological diagnostic laboratory at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science during 12.06.2001 to 12.10.2001 was analyzed with a view to detect any drug resistance. The bacterial isolates obtained from a total of 37cases showed resistance to a number of antibiotics tested. The organisms isolated and included in the study were Ecoli, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp., Aeromonas spp., Jonesia spp, Acinetobactor spp, Staphylococcus spp and coliforms. These isolates originated from 24 canine, 8 bovine, 2 feline and 3 wild animal samples. Seventy three percent of the organisms studied showed resistance to trimethoprim + sulphadiazine combination. A few organisms (10.8 %) showed resistance to gentamycin. Only one organism (a Staphylococcus spp.) showed resistance to amoxicillin + clavalunate combination. The other antibiotics for which the organisms showed resistance were erythromycin (37.8 %), tetracycline (29.7 %), ampicillin (24.3 %), methicillin (2l.6 %), penicillin (18.9 %), enrofloxacin (13.5 %), mupirocin (2.7 %), cephradine (2.7 %), streptomycin (2.7 %), diclloxacillin (2.7 %), and norfloxacin (2.7 %). The results of the study so far show the potential danger of continuous use and abuse of antibiotics.
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    Analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) in ambient air
    (University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, 2001-11-16) Karunaratne, D. G. G. P.; Jeyalalitha, E.
    Most studies of emissions from combustion for energy generation have been aimed at abating inorganic emissions COₓ, NOₓ and SOₓ owing to the strict legislations to which these compounds have been subjected and because they are emitted in large amounts in comparison to organic emissions. Technical modifications to reduce inorganic emissions have affected organic emissions so that growing attention is being paid now to volatile organic compounds, particularly to polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) and, especially to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) owing to their carcinogenic character. Although there is no definitive legislation concerning PAH abatement, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has fixed 16 PAHs as priority pollutants, the last of which was included in 1997. These compounds are as follows: naphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo (a) anthracene, benzo( b)fluoranthene, benzo(k)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, indeno( 1,2,3-c,d) pyrene, benzo(g,h,i)perylene and dibenzo(a,h)antracene. It is expected that air quality would improve soon if PAH emission was controlled. The simplest member of the PAH family is naphthalene, a two-ring compound which can be found in the vapour phase in the atmosphere. Three-, four-, and five-ring compounds can also be found in both the vapor and particulate phases in the atmosphere. PAHs consisting of five or more rings tend to be solids adsorbed onto other particulate matter in the atmosphere. A widely recognized five-ring PAH compound is benzo (a) pyrene. Naphthalene is by far the predominant airborne PAH. Night time concentrations of naphthalene are greater than daytime concentrations because of the hydroxyl radial reaction mechanism which removes naphthalene from the atmosphere in daylight. As ring size increases, the effect of this removal mechanism diminishes. These gaseous- phase reactions are important because they also lead to the formation of nitro-P AHs which are direct acting mutagens. High volume air samplers equipped with polyurethane foam (PUF) adsorbent have been a standard device for monitoring semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in air for a number of years. In such samplers, air is drawn past a filter to retain particle-phase SVOCs and then past the PUF adsorbent to retain vopour-phase SVOCs. This sampling geometry has the potential to cause sampling artifacts, most notably "blow-oft" whereby SVOCs which are adsorbed on particulate matter in ambient air may be volatilized from the particles after collection on a filter medium, thus enhancing the apparent vapour-phase concentration. A second effect which may occur is "blow-on" whereby vapor-phase SVOCs in ambient air are adsorbed on the filter media or on accumulated particulate and/or organic matter on the surface of the filter media. This would result in an apparent increase in the particle-phase loading of the SVOC in question. It is important to note that both of these phenomena can occur simultaneously.