Umbilical artery pulsatility index (UA PI), Middle cerebral artery pulsatility index (MCA PI), Cerebroplacental ratio (CPR), Body mass index (BMI)

Objectives To assess by ultrasound examination the success of insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) immediately after delivery and to determine the (P = 0.72; OR, 0.831 (95% CI,

Objectives To construct symphysis-pubis fundal height (SFH) charts to estimate fetal size in pregnant women with a normal body mass index (BMI) and to describe the variation of SFH measurements according to BMI.Methods A cross sectional study was carried out at Ampara and Gampaha Districts in Sri Lanka. Women with normal nutritional and health status, normal BMI and minimal environmental constraints on fetal growth, with ultra sound confirmation of dates by fetal crown-rump length measurements between 11 weeks and 13 weeks + six days,had their SFH measured, using non-elastic tape and standard techniques, between 24 and 41 weeks gestation. Only one measurement of SFH was obtained from each pregnant woman. Linear and polynomial regression models were fitted separately to the means and standard deviations (SD) as functions of gestational age to identify the model with the best fit. Centiles were derived from the mean and SD at each gestational age.Results Pregnant women from the districts of Ampara (n=387) and Gampaha (n=200) were recruited. Other than a difference of -1.5 cm (95% CI -2.27 to -0.23) at 38 weeks of gestation, there were no significant differences between the SFH measurements obtained from women with normal BMI in Ampara and Gampaha Districts. Using the SFH measurements from the Ampara sample, charts were created for 10th, 50th and 90th centile values of SFH. At 40 weeks of gestation these were 34 cm, 37 cm and 41 cm respectively. At 40 weeks gestation, the variation in SFH measurements between BMI sub groups within the normal range was approximately 1.4 cm to 1.6 cm.Conclusions These SFH charts could be used to estimate fetal size in pregnant women with normal BMI.Symphysis-pubis fundal height charts to assess fetal size in women with a normal body mass index

Abstract:The phenomenon of Sri Lankan university academics migrating after their postgraduate education appears to have increased over the years. Migration of academics who are among the brightest in the academic profession has a severe adverse impact on the quality of higher education. There are strong reasons for the 'Brain Drain', such as incomes and living standards in rich countries being substantially higher and research facilities and opportunities being better in developed countries. This article attempts to analyse the distribution of migrant academics and the funding used by them from 1990 to 2012, and to identify the reasons which motivate academics to resign from their substantive positions. The survey revealed that the majority of these academics had paid back their bonds. They were experienced in their specialised areas, had benefitted from postgraduate education and international research in eminent universities and clearly represented a category of academics that can definitely make a contribution to the Sri Lankan university system. They pointed out, however, that the decision to migrate was not merely an outcome of attractive prospects overseas, but also due to frustrations and difficulties encountered in changing even minor procedures, a lack of collegiality and teamwork and a lack of readiness to adapt and change in the country and the university system.

Knowledge economy requires institutions with the ability to discover new knowledge, develop innovative applications of these discoveries and transfer them into the marketplace through entrepreneurial activities.