6507 research outputs found
Sort by
issn
No full textThis research was conducted at the Intercropping
and Betel Research Station of the Department of
Export Agriculture, Sri Lanka, to assess the
impact of different irrigation levels (6 L or 8 L per
day) and amounts of inorganic fertilizer mixture
(660 kg, 1320 kg, or 1980 kg per ha) consisting of
Urea, MOP, and Eppawala Rock Phosphate, on
the growth and yield of bush pepper planted under
coconut. The study was a factorial experiment in a
randomized complete block design with three
replicates. Data on growth and yield were
collected for five years. The findings didn’t reveal
significant differences in canopy diameter or
branching. However, after 20 months, plants
irrigated with 8 L per day exhibited a higher
percentage of flowered plants, indicating that
increased irrigation can accelerate flowering.
Nevertheless, more spikes were observed under
low fertilizer application, suggesting that low
nutrient supply positively influences the anthesis
of bush pepper. Although the increased irrigation
and fertilizer application improved the spike
filling rate, it showed a decrease in spike
production. Nonetheless, no interaction between
the two factors has been identified. Moreover, the
decline in yield from the third to the fifth year was
observed which can be attributed to the mutual
shading of growing plants. However, these results
do not support the feasibility of field cultivation of
bush pepper, as the dry yield achieved in this
experiment (maximum 660 kg/ha/year) falls short
when compared to traditional climbing pepper
Factors associated with morbidity and mortality of goat in extensive and semi intensive farming systems in the eastern province of Sri Lanka
Get PDFThe present study was conducted to identify the associated factors with morbidity and mortality of
goats in extensive and semi-intensive farming systems. A sample of 266 goat farmers of three
districts i.e., Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the eastern province were randomly selected
with the assistance of veterinary offices. A pre-tested questionnaire with face-to-face interviews,
farm visits and observations were used to collect the data. The study found that goat farming is a
male-dominant (>90%) activity regardless of the farming system. Young and middle-aged farmers
with better educations adopted semi-intensive farming systems while the older and poorly educated
farmers adopted extensive farming system while being self-employed. The factors i.e., ectoparasites,
lack of feed, lack of water, age of the goats, rainy season, and the lack of veterinary services
significantly associated (p<0.05) with morbidity and mortality of goats in both extensive and semiintensive farming systems. The factors i.e., disease, poor housing, dry season and predator attack
were not associated with morbidity and mortality of goats in semi-intensive farming system whereas
the association was significant (p< 0.05) in the extensive farming system. Hence, it is concluded that
the semi-intensive farming system is effective in protecting goats from morbidity and mortality
caused by disease, dry season, predator attack and poor housing compared to the extensive farming
system. The factors associated with morbidity and mortality in extensive farming are inherent to the
system except for the lack of veterinary services
Assessment of poultry farm management practices on welfare perspectives
Get PDFAnimal welfare is ensuring the well-being of animals, humane treatments,
proper care and state of the animal (physical and mental health). This
assessment was the well-being of a laying hen flock under an intensive farm
in Kundasale, Mid country of Sri Lanka. The five freedom elements and
Welfare indicators (Behaviors, Environmental conditions and Farm
production) were used to assess the overall welfare of the farm. Values of
welfare measures (feeding, drinking, resting, walking, dust bathing, foraging,
excretion and flapping) and the Five Freedom Assessment F1: Freedom from
hunger, thirst and malnutrition, F2: Freedom from Discomfort, F3: Freedom
from pain, diseases and injuries, F4: Freedom to display most normal pattern
of behavior, and F5: Freedom from fear and distress, obtained through
observations. Data revealed significant differences in variables related to
welfare categories such as Five Freedom Assessment, Behavior (feeding,
drinking, resting, walking, dust bathing, foraging, excretion and flapping)
significant differences were observed for the variables related to welfare
indicators. The results demonstrated that in Kundasale, the farm category as
a “Normal farm”, because this overall welfare score was 44.73%, (40%-60%
range was the Normal farm category). The intensive broiler breeder farm is
moderate to satisfy the conditions of animal welfare. The results of this
assessment contributed to enhancing flock welfare standards and
improvements in the poultry farming practices of this farm
issn
No full textAs a developing country, it is important for Sri
Lanka to consider the export sector in achieving
the desired economic goals and still, Sri Lanka is
a country that has prioritized the export of
agricultural products. Entrepreneurship plays the
most important role in achieving the economic
development of a country, and considering Sri
Lanka, small and medium-scale agricultural
entrepreneurship
makes
a
remarkable
contribution to it. When considering the export
sector, the contribution of small and medium-scale
agricultural enterprises is at a very low level.
Therefore, this research aimed to gain an
understanding of the knowledge and practices of
small and medium-scale agricultural enterprises
about the export market and to assist in the
development of the export market accordingly.
Out of 1,376 small and medium-scale
entrepreneurs registered in the Galgamuwa and
Giribawa
Divisional
Secretariats
of
the
Kurunegala District, 250 were selected as a
sample using a simple random method. A
principal component analysis was conducted to
identify the main factors affecting it, in which the
factors of literacy, financial ability, management
ability,
government policies and marketing
capability were identified as internal factors that
have a high impact on the export market and
existing knowledge regarding the export market,
and utilization of knowledge of the export market
were identified as external factors. Accordingly,
proper policies and practical programs are
necessary to empower small and medium-scale
agricultural enterprises. Further, entrepreneurs
can be encouraged to remove the obstacles to
access the export market and achieve the desired
economic development goals for Sri Lanka
Study the growth and yield performance of lentil (lens culinaris) underthe Sri Lankan conditions
Get PDFRed lentils (Lens culinaris) are the most commonly consumed legume, with
a daily per capita consumption of around 770 grams per month. However,
overall consumption depends heavily onlentil imports due to challenges in
growing the crop in the country. The aim of this study is to identify the
barriers to lentil cultivation in Sri Lanka using edible seeds from market
stocks. The selected unbroken seeds from the market were tested for their
germination percentage under different potting media and their growth
performance was examined on the same media. The results showed
differences in germination percentage (ranging from 60% to 90%) between
different starting materials and survival rate differed between seeds and
growth medium. Challenges were observed during growth to flowering due
to high susceptibility to fungal diseasesand climatic conditions. The number
of leaves per plant 9 days after transplantation showed significant differences
(F = 40401, p = 0.017) between the tested media, although no significant
differences were observed after 20 days of transplantation (F = 2.326, p =
0.115). The use of sandmedia with liquid fertilizer (Albert solution) proved
successful and resulted in a significantly higher plant survival rate compared
to other media tested. Plant height showed significantdifferences between the
three media tested 9 days after transplantation (F = 5.970, p = 0.005), while
no significant differences were observed 20 days after transplantation (F =
0.987, p = 0.385).These preliminary studies suggest that germinating tiny
seedlings is challenging in local conditions, but subsequent cultivation is not
too difficult. However, further studies are needed to provide comprehensive
cultivation practices for growing red lentils under local conditions
Tharparker Indian peafowl (pavo cristatus) genetic architecture; explored by mitochondrial DNA d-loop marker
Get PDFThe blue peafowl from the genus Pavo is the largest species among both of its wild and domestic types, which
is widely distributed in the habitats of Pakistan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The aim of this study
is to have an insight of molecular diversity and phylogenetic analysis of Pavo cristatus on the basis of
mitochondrial D-loop region. A total of six samples were collected from the Lahore Zoo and Safari Park Lahore.
The whole genome was extracted by using standard protocol with minor modification. PCR amplification was
done by using a set of mitochondrial D loop primer. Codon Code Aligner 5.1.5 was used for the sequence
alignment and data analysis. Three C/T heterozygous loci were found at position 168, 170 and 223. One A/G
heterozygous locus was observed at position 234. One insertion of A at 137, one transversion C>G at 190 and
three transition mutation were observed at position 206, 222 and 236 respectively. Phylogenetic analysis was
performed with the help of MEGA 6 software using neighbor joining method which revealed that our
individuals are closely related with the Japanese Pavo cristatus. Moreover, this Japanese and Pakistan species
sharing their common ancestor. Our samples are clearly placed themselves in one clade while all other related
species are in another clade which predict the substantial divergence between Pakistani and other studies D
loop regions of peacocks
Mataa’ (alimony or consolatory payment)
Get PDFMarriage holds significant importance in the lives of both men and women,
acknowledged by both Islamic and conventional legal systems as the cornerstone of
human society. However, marriages often encounter challenges worldwide, leading
to marital breakdowns, estrangement between spouses, separation of children from
their parents, and the erosion of family institutions. In such circumstances, family
laws offer temporary relief from these hardships and calamities, particularly for
divorced wives. Various provisions exist to ensure that a divorced wife receives
necessary support, which may include Mat’ah, maintenance, lump sum payments,
or property division. This paper focuses on examining Mat’ah and maintenance for
a divorced wife. Mat’ah, an Arabic term, refers to something given for the benefit of
the recipient or an act that brings pleasure, such as a gift from the husband to his
wife upon divorce. According to Islamic teachings, a revocably divorced woman
(i.e., following the first or second talaaq) is entitled to maintenance during her
‘iddah, and she cannot be expelled from the marital home, as stated in the Quran
(al-Talaaq 65:1). Mat’ah serves to counter negative assumptions and uphold the
dignity of both the wife and her family, thus playing a crucial role in the physical,
emotional, economic, and social well-being of the divorced wife. Islamic law and
Malaysian Muslim Law provide for the maintenance of a divorced wife only until
the end of the ‘iddah period. However, this right may be forfeited if the wife is found
guilty of nusyuz (disobedience). In the context of Sri Lanka, Mat’ah serves as a
potential solution, offering social security for divorced wives
Systematic review of self-regulated learning with blended learning in digital space
Get PDFTechnology enhancements introduce novel learning modes by replacing traditional face-to-face
learning. Blended learning (BL) has emerged as the new normal, combining face-to-face instructions and
online elements. Successful BL requires a high self-regulation capability among the learners. Technology can
enhance these Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) capabilities. This paper reviews 66 papers published in the
Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Google Scholar, and Science Direct databases between 2016 and 2024 (till March)
using the PRISMA model. As per the review, self-reported data using a questionnaire is the most used
mechanism to collect data on users and most of the studies used university undergraduates as a learner group.
Very few researchers work collaboratively, though enhancement of the collaborative work will bring better
outcomes. In general, SRL positively impacts learning outcomes in the BL context. Cognitive, metacognitive,
motivational, and resource management strategies enhance learning, and emotional engagement is enhanced
by the user interface of learning platforms. However, some strategies do not have an impact on the BL
environment. This study suggests the importance of understanding the long-term impact of SRL and how
different strategies impact the learning outcomes and their subsequent performance. Also, it is necessary to
apply the different SRL strategies to different contexts to generalize the findings
The impact of board structure, ownership structure and corporate control on the performance of non-finance listed companies in Sri Lanka
Get PDFPurpose: This study mainly focuses on examining the impact of board structure,
ownership structure and corporate control governance mechanisms on firm
performance of listed companies in Sri Lanka.
Design/methodology/approach: Study used the sample of 100 non-financial
companies listed in Colombo Stock Exchange for 10 years 2014 to 2023 using
stratified random sampling, and collected data analyzed using SPSS and Stata.
Findings: The study found that firm performance is negatively impacted by board
independence, the frequency of board meetings, and CEO duality. In contrast, having
female directors on the board is associated with better firm performance.
Concentrated ownership positively affects performance, while corporate ownership
tends to decrease it. Additionally, a larger audit committee positively influences firm
performance, whereas more frequent audit committee meetings are linked to poorer
performance.
Practical implications: This research explores how governance variables affect firm
performance. It suggests that policymakers could improve corporate governance
frameworks with mandatory requirements to enhance firm performance. Additionally,
the findings provide a basis for future academic research on governance and
performance.
Research limitation: This sample covers 17 industries, excluding banking, finance,
and insurance sectors, and represents about 35% of the population of 280 companies.
Originality value: The study revealed that in Sri Lankan firms, board size does not
significantly affect performance. Companies are increasingly separating the roles of
CEO and chairman, which positively impacts performance. Enhancing board
diversity, especially with more female directors, could improve firm performance.
Concentrated ownership and institutional shareholding may hurt performance. Larger
audit committees offer better oversight, but frequent meetings can harm performance;
thus, fewer, strategic meetings are recommended
Safeguarding privacy in the ChatGPT era: a comprehensive analysis of data protection measures
Get PDFPurpose: With an emphasis on ChatGPT specifically, this study attempts to look into
data protection measures in AI-driven conversational models. As artificial intelligence
(AI) technology become more ubiquitous in daily life, worries regarding data security
and privacy have grown. The study aims to evaluate ChatGPT's present data protection
practices, spot potential dangers and weaknesses, and suggest solutions that fit
changing user expectations, regulatory requirements, and ethical standards. The main
objective is to ensure privacy in the development and application of conversational AI
models by bridging the gap between technical breakthroughs and ethical issues.
Design/Methodology/Approach: A thorough approach for reviewing the literature
was used, looking at academic studies, industry reports, and legislative frameworks
pertaining to cybersecurity, data privacy, and AI ethics. With a focus on ChatGPT-like
models, the review summarized findings from earlier research on data safety in
conversational AI. The study evaluated the benefits and drawbacks of the state-of-the
art data protection procedures and pinpointed research needs by critically examining
the literature. In order to guarantee compliance, the investigation also looked at
regulatory requirements like GDPR in relation to AI-driven dialogues.
Findings: The analysis of the literature showed that even with ChatGPT’s many data
protection features, there are still a number of serious weaknesses, especially when it
comes to handling dynamic chats and retaining user data. The main dangers that have
been identified include inadequate user control over personal data, inadequate
openness in data handling, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. The
study also revealed shortcomings in user education about privacy procedures. The
report suggested a number of improved approaches to deal with these problems, such
as stronger encryption, increased data usage transparency, and better user education
initiatives.Practical Implications: The study provides stakeholders, legislators, and AI
developers with useful suggestions. Through the identification of weaknesses in
current data protection protocols, the study offers a path forward for enhancing
conversational AI privacy and security protocols. The suggested tactics, which include
improved encryption procedures, adherence to changing regulatory requirements, and
improved user training, can assist developers in building AI models that are more
private-focused and safe. These results also aid in the development of regulatory
frameworks that guarantee the appropriate application of AI while protecting user
privacy and confidence.
Originality/Value: This work contributes to the literature by concentrating on the data
privacy issues that conversational AI models such as ChatGPT face. Although data
privacy and AI ethics are extensively researched, this study tackles the particular
issues associated with AI-driven dialogues and suggests customized remedies. The
study's conclusions offer insightful information to audiences in academia and
business, laying the groundwork for further investigation and advancement in the safe
application of conversational AI