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Insecticidal effect of selected medicinal plants on sitophilus zeamais Mostschulsky in stored maize
Get PDFThe aim of this study was to determine the insecticidal effect and phytochemical analysis
of ten medicinal plant extracts against the maize weevil, Sitophilus zeamais (Order:
Coleoptera Family: Curculionidae) on stored maize by using contact and repellency
bioassays together with the evaluation of the Minimum Concentration of Lethality (MCL)
of highly active Annona muricata. Out of the ten medicinal plant species tested, methanol
extract of Annona muricata showed the highest mortality (100%) within 7 days.
Repellency bioassay was done by using a Y-shaped glass tube. Ocimum selloi showed
maximum (57.80 ± 21.2) repellency for the Sitophilus zeamais, while Ailanthus
altissima and Eugenia caryophylata showed significant repulsion (46.67 ± 17.6) for this
insect. The highly active methanol extract of A. muricata at the concentrations of 1000,
800, 600, 400, 200, and 100 ppm was tested against Sitophilus zeamais on stored maize
and a 100% mortality was observed at a minimum concentration of 600 ppm. Preliminary
results suggest that medicinal plants could be exploited for the isolation of insecticidal
compounds. Phytochemical analysis was performed to ensure the presence of
alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins
Student attitude towards application of technology enabled tools in agriculture education: a case study in Sri Lanka institute of advanced technological education during Covid pandemic
Get PDFHigher Education and Education sector were one of the most
impacted sectors with COVID -19 epidemic worldwide. For this
circumstance, widely applied contingency plan was to replace the classroom
education by distance teaching and learning. In such situation, student
readiness and availability of technical infrastructure are paramount elements
to concern; especially in a country like Sri Lanka where the technologically
driven education system has not properly established yet. Therefore, present
study attempted to investigate the student attitude towards technology
enabled education of randomly selected 50 Agriculture students who follow
higher national diploma programme in Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced
Technological Education. A pre-tested survey questionnaire was employed
to assess student attitude towards technology enabled education using
Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) which has three main components of
perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived hedonic
component. The study used Watcharawalee Lertlum and Borworn
Papasratorn construct with minor modifications. Inferential and descriptive
statistics were employed to analyze the data. The sample consisted with
62% (31) of female and 38% (19) of male students and, most of respondents
were in average monthly income category of LKR 20000-40000. Most of
them qualified with prior ICT education. The study focused the availability of
technological infrastructure and found that 84% owned at least one
technological device while the most popular device was ‘Smartphone’. In
contrast, the least popular device was ‘Tablet or Notebook’. Considering the
student attitude, results indicated that 82% of respondents had a high-level
while, 10% and 8% had moderate and low level of attitude respectively.
Further, all three components of TAM model have significant impact on
willingness to apply the technology enabled tools in Agriculture education.
The study implicated that providing some grants such as easy paymentbased purchases, instalment purchases, work and pay basis to obtain own
ICT resources are mandatory with the ICT skill development programs. And
these findings could be utilized into national and institutional policy
development in the arena of enabling ICT facilities into higher education
sector
Analysis of intention for buying electric vehicles in Sri Lanka
Get PDFThe increasing global population and human requirements have led to an exponential
rise in the demand for transportation, which, unfortunately, heavily relies on fossil
fuels. Burning fossil fuels to produce energy for vehicles is known to have negative
effects on the environment, leading to an urgent need for sustainable transportation
solutions. Sri Lanka, like many other nations, has been facing a significant
environmental crisis due to the increasing carbon dioxide emissions from road
transportation. Therefore, the adoption of electric vehicles has become a practical
solution to this problem. This research aims to primarily explore the demographic
factors that affect consumer intention to purchase electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, while
also examining various factors such as vehicle features, perceived behavioral control,
selective norms, personal moral norms, post-purchase behavior, and other relevant
variables that may impact consumer purchase intention. The study is critical in
promoting the adoption of electric vehicles and reducing the environmental impact of
transportation in Sri Lanka
Influence of motivational programs among undergraduates: with special reference to south eastern university of Sri Lanka
Get PDFஇன்றைய காலகட்டத்தில் அனைவருக்கும் ஏதோ ஒரு
வகையில் வழிகாட்டி நிகழ்ச்சிகள் தேவைப்படுகின்றன. ஊக்குவிப்பானது
நடத்தைகளை செயற்படுத்தும் காரணிகளை மாத்திரம் குறிக்காது. மாறாக
இலக்கு நோக்கிய செயற்பாடுகளை இயக்குகின்ற, பராமரிக்கின்ற
காரணியாகவும் காணப்படுகின்றது. ஒரு மனிதன் ஒரு காரியத்தை
செய்வதற்கு அடிக்கடி ஊக்கப்படுத்தப்பட வேண்டிய தேவை உள்ளது.
இதன்போது, அவர்கள் அக்காரியத்தை சிறப்பாக செய்வதற்கு இவ்வாறான
ஊக்குவிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் பங்கேற்கின்றனர். அவ்வகையில்
பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்களிடையே மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட இவ் ஆய்வானது
ஊக்குவிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகள் எவ்வாறு தாக்கம் செலுத்துகிறது என்பதை
கண்டறிவதே இதன் நோக்கமாகும். இவ் ஆய்வு நோக்கத்தை
அடைவதற்காக விவரிப்பு ஆய்வு முறையியல் பயன்படுத்தப்படுகின்றது.
முதலாம் நிலை தரவுகள் வினாக்கொத்து, கலந்துரையாடல், அவதானம்
ஆகியவற்றின் மூலம் பெறப்பட்டன. இங்கு வினாக்கொத்தானது
எழுமாதிரியாக தெரிவு செய்யப்பட்ட இலங்கை தென்கிழக்குப்
பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவ, மாணவிகள் 250 பேருக்கு வழங்கப்பட்டன
அவற்றுள் 200 வினாக்கொத்துக்கள் கிடைக்கப் பெற்றன. இரண்டாம் நிலை
தரவுகள் ஆய்வுக்கட்டுரைகள், சஞ்சிகைகள் மற்றும் இணைய கட்டுரைகள்
போன்றவற்றிலிருந்து பெறப்பட்டன. சேகரிக்கப்பட்ட தரவுகள் MS Excel
மூலம் பகுப்பாய்வுக்கு உட்படுத்தப்பட்டன. இலங்கை தென்கிழக்குப்
பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்களை மையப்படுத்திய இவ்வாய்வில் இலங்கை
தென்கிழக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் ஊக்குவிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகள் அதிகமாக
நடைபெற்று உள்ளதோடு அதிகமான மாணவர்கள் அதில் உச்ச பயனைப்
பெற்றுக் கொண்டுள்ளனர் என்பதையும் கண்டறிய முடியுமாக உள்ளது.
அத்தோடு இவ்வாறான ஊக்குவிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகளின் மூலம் மாணவர்கள்
தமது கல்வியை விருத்தி செய்வதாகவும் அவர்களின் இலக்கை நோக்கிய
பயணத்திற்கு வழிகோலுவதாகவும் அமைந்துள்ளமை இவ்வாய்வின் மூலம்
கண்டறியப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவ்வகையில், ஊக்குவிப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகள் இலங்கை
தென்கிழக்குப் பல்கலைக்கழக மாணவர்களிடையே ஏற்படுத்திய
தாக்கமானது ஒரு இலக்கை நோக்கிய பயணத்தை காட்டக்கூடிய ஒரு
சாதகமான விளைவாகவே அமையப் பெற்றுள்ளது என்பதை இவ்வாய்வு
மூலம் அடையாளப்படுத்த முடிகிறது
A comparative study on online and onclass teaching modes to learn science for grade 7 students
Get PDFDue to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the worldwide school students’ education has
been dropped in a considerable way. With that, the traditional on-class teaching
learning mode has to shift to an online mode. That has affected students’ academic
related activities, mentality, teacher-student relationship, and student-student
relationship. This situation emerged with computer-based learning as the closest
substitute instead of the on-class mode. The purpose of this comparative study was to
find the most effective teaching-learning mode between online and on-class modes to
teach science for grade 7 students. This scientific study is based on both quantitative
and qualitative approaches. Data were gathered from 30 students of grade 7 at a 1AB
school in the Kalutara Zone, Western Province. To collect data, the researcher used the
scores of six different unit test papers, the previous two science term test results,
answers to a Google form questionnaire, interviews and observations. The quantitative
data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel and Origin 6 data analysis and graphing
software. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic analysis. According to the
results of this study, it has revealed that most of the respondents preferred to learn
science via on-class mode due to their bad experiences with online learning. This online
mode has negatively affected students’ unit test scores that have been given under three
lessons. These tests results and the students' views, perceptions, and preferences that
have been collected through a questionnaire have provided evidence to confirm that the
junior secondary students are willing to learn science subjects through an on-class
teaching learning mode. But 19.3% of them accepted some positive factors of the online
mode due to its easiness to use from anywhere, flexibility, and less time-consuming to
answer for online examinations etc. Moreover, some students’ proficiency levels have
affected their unit test scores when the teaching learning mode is online or on-class
Development of cookies incorporated with tannia cocoyam (xanthosoma sagittifolium)
Get PDFThis research study examines the potential of
Tannia Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) as a
valuable ingredient, particularly in the bakery industry,
to benefit a wider audience. The study involves the
development of tannia cocoyam-based flour through a
process that includes selection of high-quality yam,
blanching, drying and milling. Various mixtures of wheat
flour and cocoyam flour in different ratios (100%, 25%,
50%, 75% and 100%) were used to make cookies, which
were then evaluated by a group of 30 untrained people
using a 9-point hedonic scale for evaluating sensory
characteristics such as texture, color, smell, appearance,
taste, mouthfeel and overall acceptability. Statistical
analysis using SPSS revealed significant differences
(P<0.05) in the sensory quality parameters between the
different treatments, except for odor. Cookies with a
higher proportion of cocoyam flour showed a darker
color, and cookies with more than 25% cocoyam flour
had a slightly bitter taste and an undesirable mouthfeel.
The results suggest that replacing up to 25% wheat flour
with cocoyam flour can result in delicious cookies, while
higher percentages can negatively affect the physical
properties of the cookies by increasing parameters such
as diameter, thickness, and distribution ratio. Ultimately,
cookies with a cocoyam flour to wheat flour ratio of 25%
received higher preference. This research shows the
potential of using underutilized cocoyam in baked goods
to produce products with reduced gluten content and
offers new possibilities for this traditional product
Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) extract as media supplement in orchid tissue culture
Get PDFThe use of natural substances as media
supplements to promote the growth and
development of orchid has received a lot of
interest. Aloe vera extract which is well-known for
its nutritional characteristics, has the potential to
influence the in vitro growth of orchid plants.
Hence, the present study was conducted in the
Floriculture Research and Development Unit at
the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya to
evaluate the potential of usage Aloe vera extract as
nutrient additive for Orchid tissue culture. The
experiment was arranged in Complete Randomized
Design having four treatments with 15 replicates for
each experiment. The number of leaves, shoots and roots
per plantlet and explant height were measured. The
results showed that various treatments had a
substantial impact on the growth characteristics
of Orchid explants. During the third week of
incubation, 900ml of KNC+100ml of Aloe vera
extract and 700ml of KNC+300ml of Aloe vera
extract, consistently promoted higher numbers of
leaves and shoots and plantlet height compared to
the control (KNC media), highlighting the
potential benefits of Aloe vera extract
supplementation, particularly in the early growth
stages. These benefits continue throughout the
fifth week of incubation, with all treatments except
the control. Notably, 800ml of KNC+200ml of
Aloe vera extract produced the most shoots per
explant. As a result, these findings emphasize the
potential benefits of including Aloe vera extract in
orchid tissue culture media, particularly during
the early phases of growth
யாழ்ப்பாணத் தமிழ் மக்களின் வானவியல் மரபின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு டானியல் பூவர் ஆற்றிய பணிகள்
No full text19 ஆம் நூற்றாண்டின் ஆரம்பத்தில் இலங்கையின் வட
பகுதியில் உள்ள யாழ்ப்பாணத்திற்கு வருகை தந்த அமெரிக்க மிஷனரியினர்
தம் கடமையான சமயப் பரப்புப் பணியை மேற்கொண்டதுடன் மட்டும் நின்றுவிடாது
சமயத்திற்கும் அப்பால் யாழ்ப்பாண சமுதாயத்தில் கல்வி, மருத்துவம், அறிவியல்
போன்ற துறைகளின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு பெரும்பங்காற்றிய வகையில் நவீன யாழ்ப்பாண
சமுதாய வரலாற்றில் முக்கியத்துவம் பெறுகின்றனர். இவற்றில் மருத்துவம் , கல்வி
ஆகியவற்றிற்கு ஆற்றிய பணிகள் ஓரளவிற்கு விரிவாக ஆராயப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில்
யாழ்ப்பாண மக்களின் வானவியல் துறைக்கு ஆற்றிய பங்களிப்பு இதுவரையிலும்
ஆழமாக ஆராயப்படாத ஓர் நிலை காணப்படுகின்றது. ஐரோப்பாவில் ஏற்பட்ட
மறுமலர்ச்சியின் விளைவாக மேலைத்தேசத்தில் எழுச்சி கண்ட நவீன வானியல்
துறையின் கோட்பாடுகளை யாழ்ப்பாண மக்களுக்கு முதன்முதலில்
அறிமுகப்படுத்தியவர்களாக அமெரிக்க மிஷனரியின் விளங்கினர். இத்தகைய
நோக்கத்தை முன்னெடுத்துச் சென்ற அமெரிக்க மிஷனரியினர்களுள்
முதன்மையானவராக விளங்கியவர் டானியல் பூவர் என்ற அமெரிக்க அறிஞராவார்.
அந்த வகையில் இவ் ஆய்வின் நோக்கமானது டானியல் பூவர் யாழ்ப்பாண மக்களின்
வானவியல் அறிவினை வளர்பதற்கு மேற்கொண்ட நடவடிக்கைகள் எவை என்பதை
இனம் காண்பதாகவும் இவ் ஆய்வின் பெறுபேறுகளாக, டானியல் பூவர் மேற்கொண்ட
நடவடிக்கையில் அவருக்கு கிடைத்த வெற்றி எப்படிப்பட்டது என்பதனை
ஆராய்ந்தறிவதாகவும் டானியல் பூவரின் பணிகளால் யாழ்ப்பாண வானவியல் மரபில்
ஏற்பட்ட மாற்றம் எத்தகையது என்பதை கண்டறிவதாயும் அமைகின்றது
Overview of challenges and opportunities of using artificial intelligence in human resource management practices
Get PDFPurpose: This theoretical investigation was created to explore the potential
opportunities and challenges of practicing artificial intelligence in human
resource management.
Design/ methodology/ approach: 100 articles were downloaded to analyze the
challenges and Opportunities of using Artificial Intelligence in Human Resource
Management and 20 articles were rejected by irrelevancy, the rest of the 80 articles
were used to develop this conceptual literature analysis.
Findings: Based on this research study, it is clearly evident that AI creates a huge
impact on HRM practices both positively as opportunities and negatively as
challenges ways. In order to succeed in the emerging environment, AI should have collaborated with HRM practices. Therefore, challenges of AI need to be
overcome and opportunities of AI need to be utilized in a proper way.
Practical implication: According to this study, literature analysis provides
proper insight for HR practitioners to understand how AI interconnected with
HRM practices and will help to develop a comprehensive HR plan in order to
have better HR administration in all HR practices it will lead to the
effective performance in the present organizations.
Research Limitations: The researcher developed this study as conceptual
review without any statistical support and survey results with only 80 basic
related articles.
Originality Value: Only rare studies were conducted to analyze the
challenges and opportunities of using AI in HRM while most of those focused the
concept superficially but this study compilated the deep and overall opportunities
and challenges of using AI in HRM in one look
Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of aqueous extracts obtained from the leaves and bark of Punica granatum
Get PDFPlants are a natural source of novel antimicrobials. Fifty percent of new drugs are
derived from plants, as plants contain phytochemicals that have antimicrobial activity.
As many plants have not yet been investigated for antimicrobial activity, it is a good
source for discovering novel antibiotics. In Ayurveda practices, plants are used in the
treatment of wounds and infections. Punica granatum (Delum) has been used in herbal
medicine for ages. However, the medical benefits of these plants have been discussed in
only a few publications. The plant is documented to possess beneficial effects for eye
infections, heart diseases, dysentery, coughs, oedema, worms’ diseases, asthma, skin
diseases, fever, etc. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of aqueous
extracts of the leaves and bark of the Punica granatum plant against Staphylococcus
aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas
aeruginosa were obtained from the biomedical laboratory of Kaatsu International
University. Plant materials were collected from the Colombo district, and authentication
has been obtained from the botany division of the Bandaranayake Memorial Ayurvedic
Research Institute, Nawinna, Maharagama, Sri Lanka. Extractions of plants were
obtained by the decoction method, and a series of concentrations were prepared. The
antibacterial activity of the extracts of the leaves and bark of delum against
Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853)
was measured using the agar-well diffusion method. Gentamicin (10 μg/ml) was used
as the positive control. Each assay was done in triplicate. Aqueous extract of leaves
showed the highest antimicrobial activity with inhibition zones of 28.00 ±1.00 mm
(Staphylococcus aureus) and 21.0 and 0±1.00 mm (Pseudomonas aeruginosa), while
bark extract (aqueous) showed 22.33±0.58 mm and 17.67±0.58mm of inhibition zones
against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Both
Punica granatum leaf and bark aqueous extracts possess antibacterial properties.
Following testing on various clinical isolates, the extracts demonstrate potential for the
development of antibacterial formulations targeting Staphylococcus aureus and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa