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No full textHousehold food waste is driven by consumer
habits and behaviour, varying with demographic,
social, and economic factors. This study aims to
determine whether household food waste is a
luxury good and identify how demographic and
socioeconomic factors affect household food
waste. A Quadratic Almost Ideal Demand System
(QUAIDS) model was used, augmented with
demographic, socioeconomic, and expenditure
controls. Data from 195 respondents via an online
survey in the Kurunegala district (October 2022)
covered food habits and waste. Food categories
included rice, cereals, pulses, fruits, vegetables,
meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and miscellaneous foods.
The value of Household food waste was estimated
using a proxy value derived from multiplying
waste amounts by monthly grocery expenditures.
The demand system estimation showed that all
food waste categories were normal goods. Rice,
cereals,
pulses,
fruits,
vegetables,
and
miscellaneous foods were necessity goods, while
meat, fish, dairy, and eggs were luxury goods.
Expenditure share on household food waste varies
with residence area and income level, and most
households practice waste management and have
positive attitudes toward minimizing waste
Quality assessment of degraded palmprints using enhancement filters
No full textImage enhancement in the pre-processing stage of biometric systems is a crucial task in image analysis. Image degradation significantly impacts the biometric system’s performance, which occurs during biometric image capturing, and demands an appropriate enhancement technique. Generally, biometric images are mixed with full of noise and deformation due to the image capturing process, pressure with sensor surface, and photometric transformations. Therefore, these systems highly demand pure discriminative features for identification, and the system’s performance heavily depends on such quality features. Hence, enhancement techniques are typically applied in captured images before go into the feature extraction stage in any biometrics recognition pipeline. In palmprint biometrics, contact-based palmprints consist of several ridges, creases, skin wrinkles, and palm lines, leading to several spurious minutiae during feature extraction. Therefore, selecting an appropriate enhancement technique to make them smooth becomes a significant task. The feature extraction process necessitates a completely pre-processed image to locate key features, which significantly influences the identification performance. Thus, the palmprint system’s performance can be enhanced by exploiting competent enhancement filters. Palmprints have reported a lack of novelty in enhancement techniques rather than more centering on feature encoding and matching techniques. Some enhancement techniques in fingerprints were adopted for palmprints in the past. However, there is no clear evidence of their impact on image quality, and to what extent they affect the quality in specific applications. Further, frequency level filters such as the Gabor and Fourier transforms exploited in fingerprints would not be practically feasible for palmprints due to the computational cost for a larger surface area. Thus, it opens an investigation for utilising enhancement techniques in degraded palmprints in a different direction. This work delves into a preliminary investigation of the usage of existing enhancement techniques utilised for pre-processing of contact fingerprint images and biomedical images. Several enhancement filters were experimented on severely degraded palmprints, and the image quality was measured using image quality metrics. The High-boost filter comparatively performed better peak-signal-to-noise ratio, while other filters affected the image quality. The experiment is further extended to compare the identification performance of degraded palmprints in the presence and absence of enhanced images. The results reveal that the enhanced images with the filter that has the highest peak signal-to-noise ratio (High boost filter) only show an increased genuine accept rate compared to the ground truth value. The High-boost filter slightly decreases the system’s equal error rate, indicating the potential of exploiting a pre-enhancement technique on degraded prints with an appropriate filter without compromising the raw image quality. Optimised enhancement techniques could be another initiative for addressing the severity of image degradation in contact handprints. Doing so they could be successfully exploited in civilian applications like access control along with other applications. Further, utilising appropriate enhancement filters for degraded palmprints can enhance the existing palmprint system’s performance in forensics, and make it more reliable for legal outcomes
Effect of different heat treatments on oxalic acid content, physicochemical and sensory characteristics of bottled star fruit (averrhoa carambola) in its own juice
Get PDFAverrhoa carambola, commonly known as star fruit, is a highly valued
tropical fruit due to its unique flavor, high in vitamin, antioxidant, and dietary
fiber content, which appeals to consumers who are health-conscious. The
purpose of this study was to assess the sensory qualities and physicochemical
properties of bottled star fruit (Averrhoa carambola) in its natural juice.
Standardized processes were followed in the collection, processing, and
bottling of fresh star fruits. Analysis was done on the physicochemical
characteristics, such as pH, titratable acidity, brix value and ascorbic acid
content in both fresh and processed product. A trained panel was evaluated
the sensory aspects of the product using a nine-point hedonic scale to rate its
general acceptability. The fresh and bottled star fruit reported pH of 3.87 and
3.93, titratable acidity of 0.40 mg/100ml and 0.36 mg/100ml (as citric acid)
and brix value of 10 and 09 respectively. Ascorbic acid content was recorded
as 6.42 ± 1.28 mg/100ml and 3.21 ± 1.28 mg/100ml in fresh and bottled star
fruit respectively. Processing with pasteurization until 70 ± 020C, 3 min,
exhausting 80 ± 020C, 05 min) and sterilization (100 ± 02 0C, 25 min, 01 bar)
were changed physicochemical characteristics of bottled star fruit compared
to fresh fruit and no much alterations happened while the storage period. The
panelists’ positive reactions to the product were revealed by the sensory
evaluation, which gave it moderate (07) marks for acceptance overall as well
as for look, flavour, and aroma
issn
No full textGinger (Zingiber officinale) belongs to the family
Zingiberaceae. Chinese, Rangoon and Local are
the commonly cultivated ginger types in Sri
Lanka. Local ginger is rich in fiber, uses in
Indigenous and Ayurveda medicinal purposes,
and amount of yield is comparatively low. Chinese
and Rangoon are moderately in pungency,
amount of yield is comparatively high and use in
beverage industry likes for production of ginger
beer and for culinary purposes also. Ginger can
be grown either as a mono-crop or inter-crop
under coconut plantation. This research was
carried out at Inter-cropping and Betel Research
Station, Narammala where the area belongs to
Kurunegala district is under the coconut triangle.
Coconut plants are generally spaced in 26 ft x 26
ft, hence 75% of area under the coconut plants are
remaining unproductively. Underutilized area is
high when the age of the coconut plants is below
5 years and over 20 years. Climatic conditions in
Kurunegala district is more favourable for ginger
cultivation. After the three years field experiment,
the highest fresh yield of rhizome per clump for
Chinese ginger accessions was given by the
accession of G33 (949.2 g/clump) in Low Country
Intermediate Zone under coconut cultivation. The
highest fresh yield of rhizome per clump for
Rangoon ginger accessions was given by the
accession of G28 (754.2 g/clump) in low country
Intermediate zone under coconut cultivation. The
G28 and G33 accessions can be used to cultivate
under coconut plantation as an intercrop to
increase the productivity of coconut lands
The Impact of corporate governance on insolvency risk: evidence from licensed finance companies in Sri Lanka
Get PDFPurpose: This study examines the relationship between corporate governance (CG)
and insolvency risk (IR). It is grounded in the argument that corporate governance is
essential for reducing excessive risk-taking behaviors that often lead to insolvency.
The research addresses the increasing financial vulnerability of Licensed Finance
Companies (LFCs) in Sri Lanka and highlight the significance of board
independence, gender diversity, audit committee independence, and meeting
frequency as determinants of financial stability and insolvency mitigation.
Design/methodology/approach: The sample comprised 25 LFCs listed on the CSE
from 2019 to 2023. The insolvency risk was measured with Altman's emerging
market Z-score, and a panel regression analysis was employed to evaluate the impact
of CG factors. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to
explore the impact of corporate governance on the likelihood of insolvency risk.
Findings: The results reveal a statistically significant and inverse relationship
between the presence of women on boards and the frequency of board meetings with
insolvency risk. The inclusion of women’s representation on the board is particularly
influential in achieving low insolvency risk, while active audit committee
engagement further reinforces a negative impact on the probability of insolvency.
This indicates that increased gender diversity and consistent board engagement are
associated with a lower likelihood of insolvency.
Practical implications: This research suggests that companies that prioritize gender
diversity, ensure regular board meetings, and foster active audit committee
engagement are more likely to enhance organizational stability and reduce excessive
risk-taking behaviors.
Originality value: This study contributes to the existing body of knowledge on the
role of corporate governance in managing financial risk within emerging markets. It
explains the mechanisms through which governance structures influence insolvency
risk, offering a critical basis for future research and policy initiatives to strengthen
the resilience of financial institutions within developing economies
Quantitative analysis of feeding kitchen food waste to domestic animals in rural and semi-urban areas from Sammanthurai divisional secretariat division in Sri Lanka
Get PDFPurpose: Some literature on feeding kitchen food waste (KFW) to domestic animals is available.
However, the quantifi-cation of such consumption by those animals is limited. This study attempts
to investigate how various domes-tic animals contribute to disposing of the KFW by feeding in
rural and semi-urban areas of the eastern province of Sri Lanka.
Method: Simple random sampling was used to select 75 households from the Sammanthurai DS
division. The KFW was collected, segregated, and weighed from each of the households. The
weight of KFW fed to domestic and stray animals was recorded before feeding. A semi-structured
questionnaire was also used to collect the necessary data from the households selected.
Results: The study found that the KFW accounted for 49 %. 25 % of the households disposed of
their KFW by feeding to the domestic animals and another 3 % was consumed by stray animals.
The village chickens consumed the highest KFW (59.5 %) per day. Each village chicken, cow,
other birds, dog, and cat consumed 47.8 g, 695 g, 43.3 g, 128 g, and 91.7 g of KFW per day,
respectively, on average. By feeding the KFW to domestic animals, the reduction in greenhouse
gas emission was estimated to be 871 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) per day.
Conclusion: A quarter of the households fed their KFW to domestic animals they grow. The
village chickens were the highest contributor to the disposal of KFW by consuming them. Feeding
KFW to domestic animals reduces greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to rural food security
through bioconversion
Development of a semiochemical-based strategy for the management of coconut white flies (aleurodicus cocois)
Get PDFIn Sri Lanka, the coconut industry, vital for the national economy, faces a
significant threat from the recently invaded pest, Coconut White-Fly
(Aleurodicus cocois). The pest's resistance to traditional pesticides and the
tall nature of the palm has highlighted the need for sustainable management
strategies. Therefore, it is important to find an alternative to chemical
pesticides with a systemic nature, which underlines the urgency of adopting
sustainable management strategies. This study aims to develop and evaluate
a plant semiochemical-based management strategy for the Coconut WhiteFly, employing trunk injection as a systemic alternative to chemical
pesticides. The approach seeks to provide a sustainable solution, reducing
pest populations without harming the ecosystem. Plant extracts from
Strychnos nux-Vomica (Goda kaduru) seeds and leaves, neem, mint, and
clove oil were formulated and tested for effectiveness. Four successful
formulations were prepared and tested through direct spraying. Building on
the mortality success, these formulations were further incorporated with
systemic carrier materials like urea, NaCl, KCl, and citric acid, then
evaluated through trunk injection methods. Field experiments revealed
significantly (p<0.005) higher mortality percentages (68%, 95.85%, 93.27%,
and 94.66%) for formulations 1 to 4 compared to the untreated control. Trunkinjected palms exhibited a reduction in the whitefly population over time,
though continuous monitoring was hindered by weather conditions,
emphasizing the need for repeated applications for a successful conclusion
Impact of maqasid al-shariah in Muslim marriage and divorce act (MMDA)
Get PDFஇலங்கை முஸ்லிம்களது நடைமுறையில் உள்ள முஸ்லிம் விவாக மற்றும்
விவாகரத்துச் சட்டம் தொடர்பில் அண்மைய காலங்களில் அதிகமான
அறிவுசார் கலந்துரையாடல்கள் இடம்பெற்று வருகின்றன. அதன் கோட்பாடு,
நடைமுறை சார்ந்து எழுந்த பல்வேறு விதமான விமர்சனங்களின் காரணமாக
அதில் சீர்திருத்தங்கள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட வேண்டும் என்ற கருத்துக்கள்
வலுப்பெற்றன. இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து இரு தரப்பினரால் சீர்திருத்த
முன்மொழிவுகள் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டு அவர்களுக்கிடையிலான கருத்து
வேறுபாடுகள் காரணமாக சீர்திருத்தம் தொடர்பான முடிவு எட்டப்படவில்லை.
எனினும் இது தொடர்பான ஆய்வு முயற்சிகள் பல்வேறு கோணங்களில்
தொடர்கின்றன. இந்த அடிப்படையில் இஸ்லாமிய சட்டவாக்கத் துறையில்
கடந்த பல தசாப்த்தங்களாக அறிஞர்களது ஆய்வுக் கவனத்தை அதிகம்
பெற்றிருக்கின்ற துறையாக இஸ்லாமிய ஷரீஆவின் இலக்குகளை
மையப்படுத்திய அணுகுமுறை வளர்ந்து வருகின்றது. சட்டம் எது என்று
அறிந்து கொள்வது பாரம்பரிய பிக்ஹ் முறையாக இருக்க சட்டத்துக்கு
பின்னால் இருக்கின்ற காரணி என்ன, அதனால் அடையப்பெற வேண்டிய
இலக்கு என்ன என்பதில் கவனம் செலுத்துவதாகவே ஷரீஆவின் இலக்குகளை
மையப்படுத்திய அணுகுமுறை அமைகின்றது. இந்த அணுகுமுறையின்
முன்னோடியாக இமாம் ஷாதிபி திகழ்ந்த போதிலும் அதனை ஓர் முறையான
கலையாக முன்வைத்தவராகவும், புதிய ஆய்வுப் பரப்புகளுக்கு வழிகளை
திறந்துவிட்டவராகவும் இருபதாம் நூற்றாண்டின் இமாம் இப்னு ஆஷூர்
கருதப்படுகின்றார். இஸ்லாமிய சட்டவாக்கத்துறையில் புதிய இஜ்திஹாத்
முறையை ஷரீஆவின் இலக்குகளை மையமாகக் கொண்ட முறை
அறிமுகப்படுத்தியது. இந்தப் பின்னணியில் முஸ்லிம் விவாக மற்றும்
விவாகரத்துச் சட்டத்தின் கூறுகளில் பெண் காதி நியமனம், திருமண வயது,
விவாகப் பதிவு, வலி, பலதார மணம், தலாக் போன்ற பல்வேறு விடயங்களில்
சீர்திருத்தங்கள் மேற்கொள்ளப்படும் முயற்சியில் மாறுபட்ட கருத்துக்கள்
உள்ளன. இத்தகைய விடயங்களில் இஸ்லாமிய ஷரீஆவின் இலக்குகளை
மையப்படுத்திய இஜ்திஹாத் எவ்வகையில் தாக்கம் செலுத்துகின்றது என்பதை
இக்கட்டுரை ஆராய முனைகின்றது. குறிப்பாக ஷரீஆவின் இலக்குகளை
அடையப்பெறும் பொருட்டு ஆரம்பமாக ஒவ்வொன்றும் ஷரீஆவில் பெறுகின்ற
உரிய இடம் வரையறுக்கப்படுவதோடு, ஒவ்வொன்றிலும் தாக்கம் செலுத்தும்
ஷரீஆவின் கோட்பாடுகள், விதிகள் யாவை என்பது அறியப்பட வேண்டும்.
மேலும் நடைமுறையை அறியக்கூடியதாக துறைசார்ந்தவர்களைக் கொண்ட
கூட்டு இஜ்திஹாத் மூலமே இந்த விடயங்களுக்கான முறையான தீர்வை
பெறமுடியும் அதுவே சிறுபான்மை சமூகத்தின் நலன்களை பாதுகாக்கவும்
துணையாக இருக்கும் என்று இந்த ஆய்வு முன்மொழிகின்றது
Development of an efficient fish feed for catla catla post larvae to enhance the survival rates of nursery stages by using available raw materials
Get PDFThis study aimed to identify a new feed for Catla catla post larvae. There is no suitable feed in Sri Lanka for postlarvae of Indian carp. A complete randomized design was used. Two feeds were formulated using different
nutrient compositions with 32 % and 25 % of the fish meal separately. The formulated feeds were used as
treatment one and treatment two. Commercial feed was used as the control. Catla catla post-larvae were stocked
at a density of 300 post larvae per m2 in nine cement tanks. Growth parameters were measured every two other
days. Feeds were formulated according to the nutrient requirement of Catla catla post larvae. Water quality
parameters were measured daily to maintain the water quality at the proper level. T-test preformed in Mini tab
16.0. Total body weight and length were significantly different (p<0.05). The survival percentage was higher in
T1. Treatment feeds were not affected by the water quality parameters. Catla catla post-larvae show a maximum
increase in length, survival percentage and weight in T1. It was concluded that T1 has a good combination of fish
meal for Catla catla post-larvae. This study will help in future feed formulation for post-larvae feeds in developing
nations
The study of gestalt and cognitive psychological theory influences the creation of user interfaces and user experiences
Get PDFIn
the rapidly advancing realm of digital
technology, the imperative of creating innovative
and user-centric interfaces cannot be overstated.
This research undertakes a comprehensive
exploration of Human-Computer Interaction
(HCI), with a specific focus on harnessing the
insights derived from gestalt and cognitive
psychological theories to redefine the art of user
interface (UI) design and elevate user experiences
to new heights. One of the pressing challenges in
contemporary digital design lies in the unsettling
uniformity that characterizes many UIs. The
research methodology comprises four distinct
phases. The initial phase involves the meticulous
crafting of an ideal UI prototype for an e
commerce platform. The second phase entails an
exhaustive review and synthesis of UI design
theories grounded in Gestalt and Cognitive
psychology. The third phase is marked by the
assimilation of these theories into the UI design
process. Finally, the fourth phase involves the
integration of user feedback, a critical step in
validating and comparing the ideal UI prototype
against the newly developed UIs infused with
psychological principles. In conclusion, this
research underscores the vital importance of
transcending the ordinary in UI design. By
harnessing the potential of Gestalt and Cognitive
psychological theories, we aspire to dismantle the
shackles of design uniformity, providing users
with interfaces that are not just personalized but
also harmonized with the intricacies of human
cognition. In this pursuit, we anticipate a
paradigm shift in HCI, where engagement and
user-centricity
reign
ultimately
elevating user satisfaction, productivity, and the
overall quality of the digital experience