University of Sri Jayewardenepura: Journals & Proceedings
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Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Parameters of Plain Set Yoghurt Sold in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Get PDFYoghurt is a popular fermented dairy product. The assessment of quality factors of yoghurt is essential to ensure thata safe product is supplied to the consumer. This study aimed to investigate the quality characteristics of marketed, highdemand plain set yoghurts during refrigerated storage in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Four yoghurt brands were selectedbased on a preliminary survey and examined for physicochemical and microbiological attributes. Standard tests fromSLS standard SLS: 824:1989 were adopted to analyze yoghurts on days 4, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of their refrigerated storage.The findings were compared against the control which had the SLS standard. The results revealed that themicrobiological parameters; total aerobic count, and lactic acid bacterial count were within acceptable limits for alltested yoghurt brands. However, yeast and mold counts were higher than the control. Coliforms were not detected inall tested brands. A decrease in moisture content and pH were observed during storage. A rise in titratable acidity was observed in the samples compared to the control (P<0.05). The syneresis effect of yoghurts showed a non-significant increase during the storage period (P<0.05). The protein and fat content of all yoghurt samples varied from the values labeled on the yoghurt. The findings of the present study revealed that the quality characteristics of yoghurt such as the yeast and mold count, moisture content, pH, total titratable acidity, syneresis, fat and protein content are affected by storage conditions. Therefore, manufacturers should focus more on producing yoghurts with physicochemical and microbiological quality and maintaining quality during storage until they are consumed
A Novel Non-learning-based Iris Localization Algorithm Based on Maximum Black Pixel Count
Get PDFIris localization is vital for many applications such as augmented reality (AR), mobile eye tracking, tracking visual focus of drivers, diabetic retinopathy screening, and applications in human-computer interaction. Iris localization is still challenging in real-time applications, with low-quality eye images due to many reasons such as natural light reflections, thick eyelashes, fallen hair strips on the eye, and various illumination conditions. However, quality images under a controlled environment, such as Near Infrared images, solve these issues up to some level. Even though Learning-based algorithms ensure a high result in iris localization, such methods take much time and high resource usage to annotate and train bulk data. The non-learning-based method is advantageous since it does not require high resource usage or time to annotate and train data like learning-based methods. Considering all the above scenarios, we propose a non-learning-based algorithm that localizes the iris area using image enhancements and maximum black pixel count. The proposed algorithm takes face images as input, and the eyes are localized. In the following steps, a coarse iris center is found, and next, the fine iris center is extracted using the maximum black pixel count that belongs to a particular radius. The proposed algorithm is validated on our own dataset collected using a standard webcam, GI4E, and Extended YALE B face datasets. The accuracy was recorded as 96.67%, 88.04%, and 77.57%, respectively, when the maximum normalized localization error ≤0.05
වනජිවීන් හා මිනිසුන් අතර ඇතිවන ගැටුම් වළක්වා ගැනීමට සාම්ප්රදායිකව යොදාගත් කෙම් ක්රම පිළිබඳ මානව විද්යාත්මක අධ්යයනයක්
No full textSince the beginning of human history, humans have been a part of the environment, interacting with plants and animals. Over time, this loss of connection has led to various conflicts between humans and animals. Various methods have been developed as part of human culture to prevent these conflicts. Among the traditional methods, techniques such as mechanical methods, medicinal control methods, biological control methods, Kem methods, etc. can be identified. Among these methods, Kem methods are unique in that cultural values have been embedded in those Kem methods. The lack of this traditional knowledge among the current people, the fact that new technological methods are only friendly to humans, and the fact that these methods are not sufficient, has led to the current conflict between wildlife and humans. This research aims to explore the methods built on traditional knowledge based on this problem. The two Grama Niladhari Divisions of Mariarawa and Okkampitiya in the Monaragala District were used as the study areas. Ten elders above the age of fifty were selected as the research sample through purposive sampling method and relevant data were collected using observation and structured interviews. The study rediscovered many traditional methods. These include the beliefs of the villagers, Manthra (spells), traps, the use of medicines, biological control methods and a variety of Kem methods. Among these, Kem methods are also used for other strategies such as various mechanical methods. Many of the traditional methods, including Kem methods, identified from the field of study and literary sources, were successful and had a scientific basis. It was concluded that traditional methods contain technological strategies that offer better and more effective solutions than modern techniques. Also, the researcher suggests that efforts to prevent and address the current acute human-wildlife conflicts in Sri Lanka by combining traditional knowledge with modern technology would be more effective. It is a good alternative to solve problems by filling the gaps in modern techniques
Indigenous knowledge to deter elephants damaging crop lands
Get PDFElephant and man conflict is becoming more and more common problem in Sri Lanka. As there is no solution, poor farmers face severe crops losses due to elephant attacks. Electric fences were also not effective due to rise in electricity cost and elephants get used to these methods and there are no effective methods so far. According to several ancient literature man elephant conflict was controlled by traditional and indigenous methods. Therefore, extensive literature surveys on research articles, ancient authentic texts, ancient books and news articles were conducted. Furthermore, focus group discussions with farmers were carried to extract information on the most successful methods to deter elephants from crops lands. Several successful methods were extracted and presented here in this paper to disseminate this valuable indigenous knowledge into the present generation. Methods identified were Beehive fences in the border of the farmland and when elephant touches the wires the disturbed swarm of bees attaches the elephant get into the crop’s fields. Buffers of cultivation of Chili, which is an irritant, causing elephants to cough, sneeze and eventually turn away from the crop field. Vegetable buffer zones with unpalatable crops such as sisal (Agave sisalana), chili (Capsicum frutescens) tea (Camellia sinensis), ginger (Zingiber officinale), mustard (Brassica nigra) or oilseed (Brassica napus) is another method. These unpalatable crops may not necessarily deter the elephants, but these crops will not be raided and therefore the farmers’ livelihood is ensured. When elephants crush the mustard plants, they feel the strong smell which the elephants do not like, and they turn back and go away. In addition, these crops will provide additional income to the farmers. Acoustic deterrents were used widely which are noises used to deter elephants, either by the shock value of an unexpected loud noise, or by specific noises that are known to scare elephants. Acoustic deterrents are disturbance shooting, elephant communication and Tigers on tape are few of them. Chemical deterrents such as chilli powers and chilli pasted robes are also used effectively. Physical barriers such as trenches, bamboo spike, sharp stones are also used to deter elephants. As the conclusion the above mentioned traditional and indigenous methods could be practiced with less cost and it will also be possible to gain additional income other than the main crop
CONTRIBUTION OF RELIGION TO SOCIAL RECONCILIATION
No full textThe foundation of a safe society is laid by the social activities of individuals full of human virtues. Human activities can unite a society or cause its breakdown. A harmonious society is built on mutual respect, coexistence, support, and minimal conflict. Religion strongly influences the maintenance of individual human virtues and plays a crucial role in the development and well-being of a country and society, leading to social reconciliation. Religious teachings and the guidance of religious leaders shape human activities. Social reconciliation is essential to bring together people isolated by conflicts and oppressive situations, restoring society to normalcy. Religion contributes significantly to social, cultural, political, legal, and psychological aspects of building social reconciliation
Analysing the Impact of Guest Preferences on Airbnb Pricing Across Submarkets in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Get PDFThe rapid proliferation of Airbnb accommodations has revolutionized the hospitality sector, providing travelers with diverse options while empowering property owners to tap into a dynamic rental market. This study explores the nuanced impact of guest preferences on Airbnb pricing across distinct submarkets in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Drawing insights from consumer surveys and linear regression models based on OLS for 141 guests in five wards of Dar es Salaam, it was noted that there was a price reduction effect of accommodation accessibility (-0.48, sig. 0.01) in low submarkets but such effect was insignificant in the high submarket. Building design was also negative on price and statistically significant (-2.85, sig. 0.01). When building design was assessed in the high-submarket, a sign reversal of the price effect was noted though not statistically significant. The study suggests for significant price effect reversal in relation to number of visits and neighbourhood quality. Visitations exhibits a normal downward sloping demand (-0.03, sig. 0.05) in the high submarket and it is an abnormal demand (0.07, sig. 0.001) in the low-submarket while improving neighbourhood quality reduces price (abnormal) in the high-submarket (-2.76, sig. 0.001) and turns out to be normal in the low-submarket (0.71, sig. 0.001). These findings contribute to the global discourse on platform-based rental markets by highlighting the critical role of localized consumer behavior in emerging economies. It provides actionable insights for hosts, policymakers, and platform managers aiming to optimize pricing strategies and enhance market efficiency by improving neighbourhood quality only when necessary and encouraging formalized Airbnb across submarkets. By shedding light on the unique Airbnb dynamics in submarkets of a rapidly urbanizing African city, this study enriches the literature on peer-to-peer accommodation services in underexplored regions
Spiritual Leadership and Employee Innovative Behaviour: An Empirical Study of the Banking Sector in Matale District of Sri Lanka
Get PDFThis study seeks to investigate the levels of spiritual leadership and the innovative behaviours exhibited by employees, analyze the interrelationship between these constructs, and examine the impact of spiritual leadership on the innovative behaviours of employees within the banking sector. Empirical data were gathered through structured questionnaires which were administered to 208 employees from five distinct banks in Matale district of Sri Lanka, thereby addressing a notable gap in existing empirical literature within this specific research sphere. The findings reveal the prevalence of both spiritual leadership and employee innovative behaviour at a high level in the surveyed banks. In addition, the findings also indicated a positive correlation between spiritual leadership and employee innovative behaviour. Importantly, the analysis revealed that spiritual leadership exerts a significant influence on the innovative behaviour of employees in the surveyed banks. These insights contribute to understanding the role of leadership styles in fostering innovation in organizational settings.
Key Words: Employee, Innovative Behaviour, Leadership, Spiritual Leadershi
Strategic Research Investment for Sustainable Development in Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries
Get PDFStrategic research investment can profoundly change the development path of Low and Lower Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). This editorial examines successful development strategies, theoretical frameworks, and institutional models to create a guide for research investment in these nations. The insights reveal that smart research investments not only produce measurable economic benefits but also cultivate innovation capabilities necessary to avoid "middle-income traps". Countries that implement systematic research strategies, supported by robust policy frameworks, achieve progress in health, agriculture, and manufacturing. Conversely, nations that fail to develop and follow transformative policies and roadmaps risk prolonged technological relianc
සැළලිහිණි සහ ගිරා සන්දේශවල කාව්යාන්තර්ගතයේ සමානතා පිළිබඳ සන්සන්දනාත්මක අධ්යයනයක් A Comparative Study of Poetic Content Similarity in Salalihini and Gira Sandesha
No full textThe Kotte era is considered the golden age not only of Sinhala poetic literature but also of Sinhala Sandesha (messenger poem) literature. This is due to the addition of many poetic work written under various subjects to Sinhala poetry and the composition of almost five Sandeshas which are highly respected in the Sinhala Sandesha tradition. The most popular Sandeshas in Sandesha literature are the Parevi (Dove), Kokila (Cuckoo), Salalihini (Hill Myna), Gira (Parrot), and Hansa (Swan) Sandeshas. When considering these Sandeshas written in the Kotte era, various characteristics and special facts can be revealed about each one. These Sandeshas can also be observed as a mirror reflecting contemporary Sri Lankan society. In particular, this study focuses on the Salalihini Sandeshaya and the Gira Sandeshaya. There are several reasons for this choice. One reason is that these two Sandeshas lucidly convey the Sandesha society of that time. Another reason is that the author of the Gira Sandeshaya intended to glorify Thotagamuwe Sri Rahula Thero, who composed the Salalihini Sandeshaya. Additionally, the author of the Gira Sandeshaya also represents the same monastic lineage as the author of the Salalihini Sandeshaya.For these reasons, this study is based on the Salalihini Sandeshaya and the Gira Sandeshaya, as they reveal a range of subjects which have not been compared before. This study employs a textual analytical methodology to compare the poetic content of the two Sandeshas and is a qualitative review
AI-Driven Investment Property Recommendations Using Spatial Big Data, Price Trends, and Amenity Mapping
No full textIn the real estate domain, investment decisions rely heavily on spatial and economic context, yet most digital platforms still provide static listings with limited personalization or geographic intelligence. The primary objective of this paper is to introduce and validate a spatially enriched recommendation system for real estate investment that integrates Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems GIS), and big data analytics. Evaluated on over 70,000 property listings, the system leverages historical property trends, spatial amenity density, and price deviation metrics to identify undervalued or highgrowth-potential properties across urban areas. It combines location-sensitive scoring models with price per square foot analysis and Z-score based outlier detection to recommend listings that deviate positively from local price norms while offering strong amenity access. By evaluating properties based on proximity to hospitals, schools, banks, parks, transit, and other infrastructure, the model delivers context-aware investment insights. Key findings show the proposed model achieves a 70% match accuracy with expert evaluations, significantly outperforming baseline models. The implications of this work include a new framework for data-driven decision-making that can improve market efficiency, particularly in fragmented real estate markets like those in South Asia.