12th Annual Science Research Session

Safezone: an android based mobile app for university students to prevent violence and ragging

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Safezone: an android based mobile app for university students to prevent violence and ragging Rathnayaka, R. M. C. J. S.; Akmal Jahan, M. A. C. Ragging, a practice involving the hazing of new students by senior students, can result in various negative outcomes, including mental, physical, and verbal abuse. To address this issue, we need a mechanism to secretly inform the officials when an incident happens to safeguards students from ragging incidents. This project aims to design a mobile app dedicated to enhancing security alert systems for university students. Our study focuses on creating an application that provides protection for newly entered university students, specifically against ragging incidents. By adopting this app, students can easily and secretly share their current location and send an alert via SMS to required officials. One of the key advantages of this prototype is the ability to report incidents anonymously without revealing any personal information like phone numbers or names. By pressing a single button, this prototype allows students to share their current location and send SMS alerts. This app utilizes OpenAPI for secure data exchange, alongside the Google Maps API for location services and the Android SMS API for alert delivery. The is developed using Android Studio by utilizing an Android mobile device to send location-based SMS alerts within few minutes to security people, so that they can track the victim casually and prevent any dangerous harm to the victims. The functionality of this prototype is tested with 50 users, demonstrating high accuracy in location sharing and positive user feedback regarding its anonymity and ease of use. Further, we have designed the app to be adaptable for various locations and platforms. By emphasizing the importance of students’ safety and utilizing technology, this prototype offers a solution to address the issue of ragging incidents in universities. Also, will plan to collaborate with universities to integrate Safe Zone with existing security systems and promote it as an official safety resource, conduct user testing with the diverse group of university students. This will allow us to refine the app’s usability, effectiveness and user experience based on real user feedback, develop and integrate advanced safety features such as emergency contacts, real-time tracking, panic buttons and AI integration for incident detection and continuously improving security and privacy measures to ensure strong data protection and user anonymity.

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts obtained from the leaves and bark of Punica granatum

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts obtained from the leaves and bark of Punica granatum Herath, H. M. U. A. K.; Sanchethana, S. G. C.; Shantha, R. M. R. A.; Hasaana, M. N. F.; Jayasuriya, D. D. M.; Bandara, A. W. M. K. K.; Sedara, D. U. P. Plants are a natural source of novel antimicrobials. Fifty percent of new drugs are derived from plants, as plants contain phytochemicals that have antimicrobial activity. As many plants have not yet been investigated for antimicrobial activity, it is a good source for discovering novel antibiotics. In Ayurveda practices, plants are used in the treatment of wounds and infections. Punica granatum (Delum) has been used in herbal medicine for ages. However, the medical benefits of these plants have been discussed in only a few publications. The plant is documented to possess beneficial effects for eye infections, heart diseases, dysentery, coughs, oedema, worms’ diseases, asthma, skin diseases, fever, etc. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous extracts of the leaves and bark of the Punica granatum plant against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were obtained from the biomedical laboratory of Kaatsu International University. Plant materials were collected from the Colombo district, and authentication has been obtained from the botany division of the Bandaranayake Memorial Ayurvedic Research Institute, Nawinna, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Extractions of plants were obtained by the decoction method, and a series of concentrations were prepared. The antibacterial activity of the extracts of the leaves and bark of delum against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) was measured using the agar-well diffusion method. Gentamicin (10 μg/ml) was used as the positive control. Each assay was done in triplicate. Aqueous extract of leaves showed the highest antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones of 28.00 ±1.00 mm (Staphylococcus aureus) and 21.0 and 0±1.00 mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), while bark extract (aqueous) showed 22.33±0.58 mm and 17.67±0.58mm of inhibition zones against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Both Punica granatum leaf and bark aqueous extracts possess antibacterial properties. Following testing on various clinical isolates, the extracts demonstrate potential for the development of antibacterial formulations targeting Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Cytotoxicity determination of aerva lanata methanolic extract using brine shrimp lethality assay for treatment of urinary tract infections

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Cytotoxicity determination of aerva lanata methanolic extract using brine shrimp lethality assay for treatment of urinary tract infections Fernando, K. M. K.; Ilangage, J. I. M. K.; Ilangakoon, I. A. C. S.; Dissanayaka, D. M. M. K.; Rajapaksha, N. P. D.; Walpola, L. H.; Hettiarachchi, D. Plant toxicity studies play a crucial role in ensuring the safety of herbal medicines, evaluating potential risks associated with plants. The Brine Shrimp Lethality Assay (BSLA) is a widely used and cost-effective preliminary screening tool for assessing the toxicity of various substances, including plant extracts and compounds. Objectives of this study were to explore innovative methods for assessing the toxicity of methanolic extract of Aerva lanata using the BSLA for treatment of Urinary Tract Infections and to provide a foundational understanding of the toxicity of Aerva lanata extract and its potential implications for medicinal use. In-vitro experimental study was conducted at KIU laboratory, Koswatte. A. lanata whole plant and its extraction were considered as the sample used. Concentration of plant extract known to be the independent variable and Brine shrimp (Artemia salina) mortality as an indicator of extract toxicity was known to be the dependent variable. Data analysis was carried out using toxicity index values (LC50) of the Aerva lanata extract were used to find out whether the extract is toxic or non-toxic. Stock solution was prepared by dissolving 10 mg of plant extract (soluble in water) in 1 ml of water. Concentrations of 1 mg/ ml, 100 µg/ ml, 10 µg/ ml and 1 µg/ ml were prepared by serial dilution from the stock solution. 1 ml of prepared solution was taken into the respect test tubes containing 10 live nauplii of A. salina and 1 ml of seawater. After 24 hours of incubation at 25 o C, the live nauplii were counted in each test concentration of the tube. Live nauplii were move towards the light source. The 1% dimethyl sulfoxide without extract was used as a negative control. The results were recorded as the percentage of mortality after 24 hours and 50% Lethal Concentration (LC50) values were calculated using Graph Pad prism 9 software. Then it compared with the toxicity scale of LC 50 < 1000ug/ml is considered toxic and if LC 50 > 1000ug/ml considered as non-toxic. The resulting LC50 was 59.34µg/ml. Therefore, A. lanata methanolic extract is considered to be toxic since LC 50 < 1000ug/ml; according to the brine shrimp lethality assay. The research on the cytotoxicity of A. lanata using the brine shrimp lethality assay provided valuable insights into the safety evaluation of medicinal plant extracts. The study effectively fulfilled its objectives by demonstrating the potential utility of the brine shrimp lethality assay in evaluating toxicity of A. lanata plant extract; lay the groundwork for further comprehensive evaluations, offering promise in the development of safer and more efficient herbal treatments in traditional medicine.

Preliminaries

Thu, 14 Dec 2023 00:00:00 GMT

Preliminaries