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Development of management strategy for black sooty mold fungus on coconut leaf after whitefly damage
Get PDFCoconut (Cocos nucifera L), an important plantation crop in Sri Lanka, faces
productivity problems due to various biotic factors, with whitefly damage
posing a significant threat as it promotes the growth of black sooty mold. The
mold culture on the leaf surface reduced photosynthesis and thus reduced
yield. Therefore, it is necessary to control the formation of mold after the
whitefly has settled on the fronds. This study addresses the limitations of
chemical pesticides and explores eco-friendly alternatives to mitigate the
impact of black sooty mold fungus in field conditions. Fungicide agents and
plant extracts were compared, and antifungal compounds from plant
materials such as clove leaf, turmeric leaf, garlic, pandan leaf, Senna alata,
Jesmine leaf and holy basil were identified. Black mold was isolated,
cultured, and confirmed in the laboratory. Two nano formulations were
created based on preliminary observations: one with 5% jasmine and 1%
geraniol, and the other utilizing 5% clove oil. Laboratory experiments
applied these formulations at 10% concentrations in Potato Dextrose Agar
(PDA) media to culture black sooty mold fungus, comparing the results with
a control as a completely randomized design with 6 replicates. Results
indicated no mold growth on plates treated with both formulations, while
control plates exhibited mold growth after two days. Continuous observation
revealed inhibition of mold growth for up to two months with formulation
two, whereas formulation one exhibited mold initiation after three weeks.
Further experiments conducted with both the formulations were incorporated
with whitefly toxic compounds were treated to the infested palm through
trunk injection. Treated palms exhibited delayed reduction in mold growth on
new fronds, with no reduction observed on existing molds. Continuous
monitoring and repeated application through further research are essential
for conclusive results
An unusual occurrence of carbonatites derived from the crust in the UHT granulite facies metamorphic terrain of Sri Lanka
Get PDFThe special calcite bodies (CBs) exposed within the ultrahigh temperature (UHT) granulite facies terrain in the
Balangoda area of Sri Lanka preserve shreds of evidence for the generation of crust-derived carbonatite in the
crust. The CBs are exclusively made up of massive calcites and appear as concordant bands extending tens of
meters or as meso-scale isolated pockets hosting the massive dolomitic marble band. Various sizes of mafic and calc-silicate enclaves occur as rotated or tilted structures within the CBs. The contact between the CBs and the host marble is texturally and mineralogically gradational, while the contact between the enclaves and the CBs is sharp. The large-ion lithophile elements and rare earth element contents of the CBs show enrichment compared to the host marble, while depletion compared to typical carbonatites. Furthermore, the Sr content and C-O isotope values in CBs differ from those found in known carbonatites, hydrothermal carbonates, or metasomatic carbonates. We suggested that the crustal anatexis of marble should be hypothesized as the possible mechanism for the origin of the CBs. Microtexural evidence of the calcite grains shows indications of the melting of the host marble. The release of CO 2-rich fluids from the collision and thrusting of HC over VC, or related metamorphic events, likely lowered the solidus of carbonates, triggering crustal anatexis of marble during UHT granulite facies metamorphism. The generated low viscous carbonate melt may have moved rapidly, resulting in a low degree of mixing of silicates and fragmentation and dislocation of enclaves. The results of the present study reflect the existence of anatexis of carbonates under extreme crustal conditions and provide a better understanding of the sources, migration paths and reservoirs of the carbon recycling processes
Acceptance of chatgpt by undergraduates in Sri Lanka: a hybrid approach of sem-ann
No full textPurpose
This study aims to investigate Sri Lankan Government university students’ acceptance of Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT) for educational purposes. Using the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) model as the primary theoretical lens, this study incorporated personal innovativeness as both a dependent and moderating variable to understand students’ ChatGPT use behaviour.
Design/methodology/approach
This quantitative study used a questionnaire survey to collect data. A total of 500 legitimate undergraduates from 17 government universities in Sri Lanka were selected for this study. Items for the variables were adopted from previously validated instruments. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) using SmartPLS 4 was used to investigate latent constructs’ relationships. Furthermore, the variables’ relative relevance was ranked using a two-stage artificial neural network analysis with the SPSS 27 application.
Findings
The results of the analysis revealed that eight of the nine proposed hypotheses were confirmed. The most significant determinants of behavioural intention were habit and performance expectancy, closely followed by hedonic motivation and perceived ease of use. Use behaviour was highly influenced by both behavioural intention and personal inventiveness. Though personal innovativeness (PI) was suggested as a moderator, the relationship was not significant.
Research limitations/implications
The research highlights the impact of habit, performance expectancy and perceived ease of use on students’ acceptance of AI applications such as ChatGPT, emphasising the need for efficient implementation techniques, individual variations in technology adoption and continuous support and training to improve students’ proficiency.
Originality/value
This study enhances the comprehension of how undergraduate students adopt ChatGPT in an educational setting. The study emphasises the significance of certain variables in the UTAUT2 model and the importance of PI in influencing the adoption of ChatGPT in educational environments
Dynamics of legal politics regarding marriage age limits in Indonesia: between religious norms and social change
No full textACKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to express our gratitude to the Universitas Pergpuruan Tinggi
Ilmu Al-Qur'an, Sekolah Tinggi Agama Islam Nurul Iman and Faculty of
Islamic Studies and Arabic Language, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
for their support in completing this manuscript.The change in regulations regarding the age limit for marriage in Indonesia is a response to the high rate of child marriage, which still faces various challenges in its implementation. This study examines the debate between tradition and modernity in child marriage practice, the legislative process, and the challenges faced in changing the age limit norms for marriage and marriage dispensation as a legal loophole in enforcing the age limit norms for marriage. The research method employs a normative juridical with statutory and conceptual approaches. The study results show that changes in the age limit norms for marriage aimed to protect children's rights. However, religious norms and social pressure influence its implementation through marriage dispensation in the Religious Court, resulting in inconsistencies in its law enforcement. This condition poses a challenge to harmonize religious norms with social change. This study emphasizes the need for a more transparent and strict marriage dispensation mechanism. In addition, increasing public legal awareness is the key to encouraging social changes that support child protection. Strengthening public awareness and consistent regulations is expected to minimize and suppress the number of child marriages.The writers covered the costs for writing this paper as part of their scholarly responsibility
Evaluation of physicochemical and sensory characteristics of bottled star fruit (averrhoa carambola)
Get PDFAverrhoa carambola, commonly known as star
fruit, is a highly valued tropical fruit due to its
unique flavor and numerous health benefits. This
study examines the effects of several heat
treatments on the physicochemical properties,
sensory qualities, and oxalic acid concentration
of bottled star fruit (Averrhoa carambola).
Pasteurized juice at 60 ± 02 0C for 5 min were
poured into pre sterilized jars with star fruit
pieces. Sensory aspects were evaluated of the
product using a nine-point hedonic scale to rate
its general acceptability. The oxalic acid content
of raw, mature and ripe were 215.4 mg/L, 196.9
mg/L and 174.7 mg/L respectively while ascorbic
acid content was reported as 3.21 mg/L, 3.21
mg/L and 6.42 mg/L. After blanching at 1, 2 and
3 min with 80oC for ascorbic acid content and
oxalic acid content results were recorded as 6.42
mg/L, 3.21 mg/L and 3.21 mg/L and 96.1 mg/L, 84
mg/L and 80.5 mg/L respectively. The fresh and
bottled star fruit contained characteristics such as
pH of 3.87 and 3.93, titratable acidity of 0.40 %
and 0.36 %, brix value of 10 and 09 (TSS), Oxalic
acid content 567 ± 26.62 mg/L and 341 ± 5.58
mg/L, ascorbic acid content 6.42 mg/L ± 1.28
mg/L and 3.21 ± 1.28 mg/L were recorded
respectively. According to the WHO guidelines
that oxalic acid content was got the safer level (50
mg/day) and because of that it can be used for
susceptible individuals as well
Quazi court and administrative integrity
Get PDFDispensing justice is considered an ibadah, or act of worship, in Islam. It is a
fundamental commandment outlined in the Holy Quran and exemplified by the
Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Those who deviate from delivering the correct verdict,
whether due to personal biases or ignorance, are admonished in Islamic teachings,
with dire consequences for those who perpetuate injustice. Conversely, upholding
justice is viewed as a means to attain paradise, highlighting its paramount
importance in Islamic jurisprudence. Educating judges on the principles of Islamic
law pertaining to justice is essential for enabling them to administer impartial
justice effectively. Historically, early Arab Muslims who settled in Sri Lanka and
their successors possessed expertise in this area, appointing knowledgeable
individuals as Qazis to adjudicate matters of marriage, divorce, and disputes within
the community. However, during the colonial period, the decline in Muslim
education and cultural training posed challenges in finding qualified Qazi judges.
The discussions surrounding the Muhammadan Marriage Act of 1886 in the
Legislative Council revealed a lack of legal scholars in Ceylon capable of
interpreting the legal provisions regarding divorce. Consequently, the
establishment of the Qazi Court was initially avoided. Nevertheless, the enactment
of the Muslim Marriage and Divorce Act of 1951 legalized the Qazi Court and
mandated the appointment of Qazi Judges. At that time, minimum educational
qualifications for Qazi judges were not stipulated; instead, candidates were
required to be Muslim men of good character, social standing, and analytical
judgment abilities
Job-related stressors and teachers’ performance: with special reference to primary school teachers in Akkaraipattu educational zone, Sri Lanka
Get PDFPurpose: The research was conducted to find out the influential relationship between
work related stressors and teachers’ performance among primary school teachers in
the Akkaraipattu educational zone.
Design/methodology/approach: A sample of 162 was drawn from 40 primary
schools in Akkraipattu educational zone. This study used the survey method.
Standardized questionnaires were distributed among the respondents to collect the
data. The gathered data was presented in graphs and tables to explain the pattern of
responses. A popular statistical SPSS 26 package was used to analyse the data. Results
obtained from descriptive, correlations and regression analyses were used for
interpretation.
Findings: This study has shown that job role conflict, work overload, inadequate
reward policy and job burnout impact teachers’ job performance. It was found that
job role conflict, work overload, inadequate reward policy and job burnout have
a negative impact on teachers’ job performance in primary schools in
the Akkaraipattu educational zone.
Practical implications: This research has shown that the teachers who work in the
primary schools in the Akkaraipattu educational zone are aware of their job role
conflict, work overload, inadequate reward policy and job burnout impact on their job
performance. This finding will be useful for the teachers concerning work related
stressors in order to increase the level of job performance.
Originality value: This study discloses that work related stressors are to be
minimized to increase the job performance of primary school teachers
Fish waste as a potential feed ingredient for fish meal production.
No full textThe fisheries and aquaculture sector has increased production in present, however, the products aren’t utilized to their full economic potential, leading to the generation of waste. Disposal of seafood wastes because of not only substantial environmental pollution but also a loss of the prospective value of such goods stressed the prominence of finding suitable modalities to manage fish waste. The experiments have explored, that being a main source of protein, minerals, and vitamins, fish waste could be converted to fish meal as it is the costliest source of protein. Fish meal is one of the most valuable byproducts of the marine industry that isn’t used for human food and can be utilized as a feed ingredient not only for fish but for other animals too. On the other hand, production of fish meal is challenged due to lower catch from capture fishing, increased cost, and put forward to utilize the alternative sources for fish meal production. Fish byproducts are employed in the creation of fish meals to address these difficulties and could reduce fishing pressure on meal-targeted species. Accordingly, the book chapter discusses elucidating the utilization of fish waste and byproducts as a source for fish meal production, factors influencing the production, and merits and demerits addressed by the production and how those can be overcome
Exploring the antimicrobial efficacy of methanolic leaf extracts from cassia species against common pathogens
Get PDFThe overuse of synthetic antibiotics has led to antibiotic resistance, prompting a new
focus on plant-derived compounds for the development of new antimicrobial agents.
This study investigates the antimicrobial properties of methanolic leaf extracts of five
species of Cassia, C. tora, C. alata, C. occidentalis, C. absus and C. sophera against
four common pathogens, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus
aureus and Candida albicans. Cassia species were selected based on their traditional
use in Sri Lankan Ayurvedic medicine. The antimicrobial properties of the extracts were
evaluated using the disc diffusion method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing and the
minimum inhibitory concentration. In addition to antimicrobial testing, a preliminary
phytochemical analysis of the extracts was undertaken to determine the presence of
alkaloids, phenolics, tannins, and flavonoids. All extracts showed remarkable
antimicrobial properties, with C. alata and C. tora showing the most significant zones
of inhibition. Zones of inhibition for S. aureus were particularly evident, with C. alata
showing a maximum zone inhibition of 16.22±0.04 mm. C. tora showed a zone of
inhibition of 11.81±0.02 mm against E. coli, while C. alata showed 9.57±0.06 mm.
Other Cassia species also showed remarkable activity across the tested pathogens, For
C. albicans, all extracts proved their antifungal capabilities but required greater doses
for efficacy and produced smaller inhibition zones compared to bacteria. In the reported
MIC values, C. alata and C. tora consistently outperformed other Cassia species,
demonstrating the lowest MIC values against the tested pathogens. The phytochemical
analysis revealed that leaf extracts contain alkaloids, phenols, tannins and flavonoids,
all known for their antimicrobial properties. The combined action of these components
likely boosts the overall antimicrobial activity of Cassia leaf extracts, emphasizing their
potential as a source of new antimicrobial agents for medicinal applications
Impact of human resource management practices on the retention of sales staff (northern and eastern provinces) of union assurance plc.
Get PDFPurpose: In today's competitive environment, effective human resource management
(HRM) is critical for organizations striving to attract and retain talented employees.
In this context, insurance companies struggle to attract and retain the best sales staff.
Currently, insurance Companies accept that human resource management practices
are the cornerstone for attracting and retaining talented sales Employees who continue
to contribute to achieving profitability and other corporate objectives. Union
Assurance Plc served as the focal point of this study. This study focused on Union
Assurance PLC, specifically its sales staff in the Northern and Eastern provinces
(Cluster 4) of Sri Lanka, to investigate the impact of HRM practices on sales staff
retention. The aims of the study were to find the impact of HRM practices on the
retention of sales employees which has emerged as the dominant research issue in the
field of HRM.
Design/methodology/approach: A self-administered questionnaire was used to
collect the data from 199 sales staff from the Eastern and Northern branches of Union
Assurance. The questionnaire covering independent variables such as recruitment and
selection, training and development, compensation and rewards, and performance
management with retention of sales staff as the dependent variable. Descriptive,
correlation and regression analyses were employed to analyze the data.
Findings: The analysis revealed that HRM practices, including recruitment and
selection, training and development, compensation and rewards, and performance
management, significantly impact the retention of sales employees at Union
Assurance PLC. Among these factors, performance management had the most
substantial effect on employee retention in the Northern and Eastern provinces.
These findings not only address the research questions by demonstrating the overall
significance of HRM factors on retention but also provide practical insights for HR
professionals in the insurance industry, highlighting performance management as the
most critical factor. Practical implications: The study's results provide valuable insights for Union
Assurance PLC in developing targeted HRM strategies to enhance sales employee
retention. By focusing on effective performance management and other HRM
practices, the company can improve job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and
retention rates. Additionally, the findings contribute to the broader literature on HRM
and employee retention in the insurance industry, particularly in the context of Sri
Lanka, offering a foundation for future research and practical applications in HRM
strategies.
Originality value: This is the additional contribution to human resource management
theories from Sri Lankan context. This is a new contribution among insurance
industry in the Sri Lankan context in the relevant scope