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The Impacts of Critical Construction Supervisory Competencies on the Efficiency, Productivity and Sustainability of Road Construction Operations in Sri Lanka
Get PDFSupervision practices play a crucial role in acting
as a bridge between labour and organisations in construction.
According to sources, the progress of construction projects is
negatively impacted by the inadequate competencies of construction supervisors in developing nations like Sri Lanka. This
study aims to pinpoint the critical supervisory competencies that
affect the efficiency, productivity and sustainability of road construction operations. Qualitative and quantitative methods were
applied to determine the essential supervisory competencies of
the construction industry. To analyse the necessary actions,
industry-expert discussions were held using problem-focused
communication approaches. In total, 17 cognitive elements and
25 skills/abilities of construction supervisors were identified as
being crucial according to their impact values, with the topranking cognitive domains for construction supervisors being
basic concepts of structures and performance evaluation of
labour skills, followed by their manual skills/abilities in labour
management and communication. A list of anticipated key
competency outcomes was presented for assisting the development processes of new productive construction supervisory
training components. Pertinent statistical analysis results and
the industry consultation outcomes assured the validity and dependability of the overall findings. The results demonstrate how
the significant construction supervisory competencies impact
the efficiency and sustainability of road construction operations
with the necessary quantitative measurements, and these results
will be highly useful to the industry sector skill enhancement
authorities/boards as they update their training development
practices intending to enhance the sustainability and work
culture of construction project operations. The study findings
have greatly influenced how the industry re-skills and upskills workers in terms of supervision, work culture, efficiency,
sustainability and productivity management. While Sri Lankan
road construction projects were the study’s primary focus, some
of the findings will also be tested in situations similar to those
in other developing construction industries worldwide
Effect of Yaramila complex fertilizer on growth and yield of Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Get PDFThis study was conducted to evaluate the effect
of Yaramila complex fertilizer on the growth and yield of
cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.). The experiment was laid
out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with six
treatments (T1-T6) in nine replications. The Yaramila complex
fertilizer (12:11:18 NPK + 3MgO + 8S) was applied at different
rates as basal (0-4 g per plant) and top dressing (4-8 g per plant),
whereas treatments were T1 (0,4), T2 (0,8), T3 (2,4), T4 (2,8),
T5 (4,4) and T6 (4,8). The results revealed that the application
of Yaramila fertilizer had a significant influence on the vine
length, number of leaves, the total number of fruits, and fresh
weight of fruits per plant, as well as the dry weight of crop
residue among the treatments. At 5% significant level, the vine
length in T4 (2 g basal and 8 g top dressing) (37.12 cm) was
significantly longer than that (27.75 cm) in T5 (4 g basal and 4
g top dressing), which had a shorter vine length compared to
other treatments at 4th WAP. The number of leaves was high
(7.3) in T6 (4 g basal and 8 g top dressing), whereas the number
of leaves was low (4.9) in T2 (0 g basal and 8 g top dressing) at
2
nd WAP. Yaramila fertilizer application significantly (P=0.0001)
influenced the total number of harvested fruits per plant. There
were no remarkable differences in fruit diameter and fruit
length between the treatments at P=0.05. Fruit length ranged
from 14.06 cm (T1 as a control: 0 g basal and 4 g top dressing)
to 17.33 cm (T4: 2 g basal and 8 g top dressing). There was
a significant difference (P=0.0012) in harvested fruit weight
per plant among the treatments. The highest mean value of
cumulative fruit yield was obtained in T5 (14,968.89 kg/ha), and
the least value was observed in T3 (7,857.78 kg/ha). Yaramila
fertilizer 4 g per plant as basal application and 4 g per plant as
a top dressing (2 g at 2 weeks and 2 g at 4 weeks) [T5 treatment]
could be used in cucumber cultivation to obtain high fruit yield
இந்து திருமணச் சடங்கு முறைகளில் பால் சமத்துவம்: ஓர் ஆய்வு
No full textபாலின சமத்துவம் என்பது சுதந்திரம், சுயநிர்ணயம்,
சமயம், மொழி, பண்பாடு, கலாசாரம், கல்வி, சிந்தித்தல் போன்ற
விடயங்களை ஆண்களும் பெண்களும் சமனான அளவில் பெற்று
செயற்படலாகும். பண்பாடு தொடக்கம் மொழி வரையில் ஆணுக்கும்
பெண்ணுக்கும் சம அளவு உரிமை காணப்படல் அவசியமாகும். அதன்
அடிப்படையில் பண்பாடு, கலாசாரம், போன்றவற்றின் பால் சமத்துவம்
பேணப்படுவதைக் காணலாம். அவைதீகநெறி என போற்றப்படுகின்ற
இந்துசமயம் பல கோட்பாடுகளையும் சிந்தனைகளையும் தத்துவங்களையும்
எடுத்துக் கூறுகின்ற மதமாக காணப்படுகின்ற அதே வேளையில் ஆணுக்கும்
பெண்ணுக்கும் இடையிலான சமத்துவ தன்மையினையும் கோட்பாடுகள்,
கொள்கைகள் ஊடாக வெளிக்காட்டுவதையும் காணலாம். இந்து பண்பாட்டு
கலாசார கோலங்களில் சடங்கு முறைகள் செல்வாக்கு பெற்றன. அவற்றுள்
மக்கள் வாழ்வியலோடு பின்னிப்பிணைந்த சடங்காக திருமணச்சடங்கு
காணப்படுகிறது. திருமணம் என்பது ஆணும் பெண்ணும் இணைதலாகும்.
இந்து திருமணச்சடங்கு முறையில் பால் சமத்துவம் பேணப்டுவதை நாம்
காணலாம். திருமண நிகழ்வின் போது இடம்பெறும் சடங்குகள்,
சம்பிரதாயங்கள், கிரியைகள் ஊடாக பால் சமத்துவம் வெளிப்படுவதை
நோக்கலாம். ஆணும் பெண்ணும் இணையும் போது அவர்களிடையே
அனைத்து விடயங்களிலும் சமனான நிலை காணப்படும் போது தான்
அவர்களின் இல்லற வாழ்க்கை சிறக்கும். வாழ்வின் தொடக்கமாக
அமைவது திருமணம். திருமணம் வழியே ஆணுக்கும் பெண்ணுக்கும் பால்
சமத்துவம் பேணப்படுவது சிறப்பிற்க்குரியதாகும். இந்து திருமணச் சடங்கு
முறைகள் சம்பிரதாயங்கள், சடங்கு முறைகளின் அடிப்படையில்
நிகழ்வதாகும். அத் திருமணச் சடங்களில் ஆண் பெண் சமத்துவம்
பின்பற்றபடுகின்றதா? என்பது ஆய்வுப் பிரச்சினையாக கொள்ளப்படுகிறது.
திருமணச் சடங்கு முறைகளில் பால் சமத்துவும் பின்பற்றப்படுவதை
இனங்கண்டு வெளிப்படுதல் பிரதான நோக்கமாக கொள்ளப்படுகிறது. இவ்
ஆய்வில் பகுப்பாய்வு, விபரண ஆய்வு, வரலாற்று ஆய்வு, அடிப்படை ஆய்வு
போன்ற ஆய்வு முறைகள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஆண் பெண் சமத்துவம்
என்பது இருபாலாருக்கும் உரியதான உரிமையாகும். ஆணுக்கும்
பெண்ணுக்கும் தகுந்த சமமான உரிமை வழங்கப்படும் போது சமூகம்
நல்முறையில் உருவாகும்
Geochemical, mineralogical and textural nature of beach placers, north-east Sri Lanka: Implications for provenance and potential resource
Get PDFThe Pulmoddai placer sands in Sri Lanka (9°3′23.65″–8°51′38.83″N and 80°55′22.91″–81°3′32.65″E) is considered to be one of the major rare earth element (REE) prospects world-wide. This deposit has a global significance in terms of strategic economic resources and can provide valuable insight for resource estimation and for its economic use. A detailed study of the geochemical, mineralogical, and textural properties of the heavy minerals of this region is undertaken applying the scanning electron microscopy–electron dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP–OES), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) techniques. The results from these analyses are modeled to delineate the source(s) which contribute to the formation of the mineral deposits and their subsequent enrichment. The beach sediment from this region, exhibited elevated concentrations of major elements like silicon (Si) and manganese (Mn) and high abundance of minor and trace elements like yttrium (Y), strontium (Sr), lanthanum (La), barium (Ba), which indicates that the provenance is similar to calcium-silicate rocks. The highest (total) concentration of Y, La, scandium (Sc) and cerium (Ce) are mainly associated to fine grained sediment, signifying that their occurrences are governed by the grain size distribution and ambient hydrodynamic conditions primarily from lagoonal input. Monazite, zircon, ilmenite, rutile, and xenotime are more abundant than garnet in the study area, as is evident from the higher abundance of thorium (Th) and uranium (U) and the enrichment of zirconium (Zr), Ce, vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), and Y. Textural analysis of sediment shows sediment particles are poorly sorted and have more angular grain boundaries, indicating their lower textural maturity. This suggests that the sediment is fluvially derived from a close source rock of charnockite specific to the hinterland lithology. The sediment transported by perennial rivers and the hydrodynamic conditions of the Kokkilai Lagoon estuary are the two primary sources of heavy mineral enrichment in the study area, which is quite unique in terms of the placer formation. Subsequently, these sediment particles formed the beach placer deposits enriched in REE–Th rich heavy minerals, which are of immense strategic importance
Gender inequality in Sri Lanka
No full textGender refers to the social characteristics and possibilities that come with being male
or female, as well as the relationships between girls and boys and women and men.
Gender analysis is a critical examination of how men, women, boys, and girls are
affected in particular contexts or circumstances by disparities in gender roles,
activities, needs, opportunities, and rights. When girls, boys, and women all have
equal standing in society, are entitled to all human rights, are treated with respect in
their communities, have access to the same opportunities to make decisions about
their lives, and have an equal amount of influence over how those decisions turn out.
The Sustainable Development Goals are centered on gender equality and women's
empowerment, both of which are essential to achieving all of a person's rights and
potential. In numerous regional, international, and national declarations and charters,
the fundamental right to the best achievable level of living, including mental, bodily,
and social well-being, has been acknowledged. Inequalities between men and women
are visible in every aspect of development. The most prevalent disparities are found
in the following areas: social views, gender stereotyping, involvement in public life
and policymaking, economic development, health and education, and violence
against women. The objectives of the research were to study the key factors related
to gender inequality, analyze different factors that are responsible for gender
inequality, and assess various initiatives taken by the government of Sri Lanka. The
secondary data research that underlies this analysis. This entails combining data from
many studies, i.e., utilizing existing research materials in place of primary research
techniques. Data for this study were gathered via the Internet, libraries, survey results,
old records, and organizational reports. The impact of various key issues relating to
gender inequality on the social, economic, and political development of the economy
is discussed in this study. Even though women are legally entitled to equal rights,
gender stereotypes have a long-standing negative impact on our culture, and women
in Sri Lanka face a variety of forms of discrimination. Therefore, it is crucial to bring
gender concerns to the attention of society to prevent prejudice based on gender. One
of the crucial components to releasing women's potential is gender norms that
empower women. In this study, strategies for promoting gender equality in our
society are elaborated. Women's power represents the greatest potential for economic
growth. A society where men and women assist one another will be built to realize
the empowerment of all women and girls
The relationship between social media marketing and consumer response: a comparative study among generations y and z with reference to retail fashion wear
Get PDFPurpose: The objective of the study is to determine the connection between SMM
and consumer response among generation Y and Z regarding retail fashion wear
in Sri Lanka.
Design/Methodology/ Approach: To achieve the objective a deductive approach
was adopted and conducted as a survey by collecting data from 320 residents of
the Colombo district who ranged in age from 10 to 25 and from 26 to 41 years
old using a convenience sampling technique.
Findings: This study discovered a considerable positive relationship between
customer response and the factors of SMM including entertainment, interaction,
trendiness, customization, and word-of-mouth among the two generations.
Additionally, it was discovered that generation Y is more likely than generation
Z to have a positive association between SMM and consumer response.
Practical Implication: The findings are crucial for fashion retailers to select the
best generation to target when marketing their products through social media and
assist them to attract and retain customers through effective SMM efforts.
Originality/ Value: Since there have been relatively few studies that have been
conducted as comparative investigations, the research provides important
arguments to the discussion about how to assess the relationship between SMM
and consumer response among generations Y and Z regarding retail fashion wear
The impact of corporate social responsibility on firm performance: special reference to consumer services companies listed on Colombo stock exchange
No full textDetection of IS6110 (insertion sequence) in serum of tuberculosis patients reported to Kandy chest clinic
Get PDFTuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, necessitating the development of
more sensitive and non-invasive diagnostic tools. This preliminary cross-sectional study
explores the potential of detecting the IS6110 insertion sequence, a unique genomic
marker of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, in serum as a novel diagnostic approach. The
study protocol was approved by the Ethics Review Committee, General Hospital,
Kandy. Blood samples were collected from Active TB (n = 20), Latent TB (n = 22), and
contact tracing (n = 28) patients attending to the Kandy chest clinic. RNA was extracted
from the serum samples using the guanidium thiocyanate-phenol-chloroform extraction
method. Then extracted RNA was quantified and subjected to complementary DNA
(cDNA) synthesis using GoScriptTM Reverse Transcription System according to the
manufacturer’s guidelines. A conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was
carried out using 6 ng of template cDNA with IS6110 insertion sequence-specific primer
pairs
Pt8:
5’-GTGCGGATGGTCGCAGAGAT-3’,
Pt9:
5’
CTCGATGCCCTCACGGTTCA-3’. The H37Rv bacterial DNA was used as a positive
control for this study. The amplified PCR products were run on 2% agarose gel along
with 100 bp ladder and the negative control. The positive results obtained from the
conventional PCR amplifications were confirmed with real-time PCR by using the
primer
pairs
specific
for
IS6110
insertion
gene,
INS1,
F:
5’
CGTGAGGGCATCGAGGTGGC-3’ and INS2, R: 5’-GCGTAGGCGTCGGTGA
CAAA-3’. The results revealed that the IS6110 gene was detected in 45% of serum
samples (9 out of 20) collected from active TB patients. Latent TB and contract tracing
patients did not possess the IS6110 gene in their serum samples. In conclusion, the
serum samples in this study did not demonstrate the potential to detect the MTB
specific mRNA transcript in individuals with latent TB (LTB) and contact tracing (CT).
However, it may suggest detecting the bacterial transcript in active TB patients.
Nevertheless, further improvements are necessary for it to be considered a reliable
biomarker for active TB
Using electroencephalogram classification in a convolutional neural network, infer privacy on healthcare internet of things 5.0
No full textWhen enabled by the internet of health things (IoHT), brain neuroscience may conduct online analysis of brain information through multi-variate electroencephalogram (EEG) classification, which would be a requirement for the recent surge in biofeedback technologies and medical supervision. With the ever-increasing privacy issues and vulnerabilities of conventional methods, a universal and reliable-based authentication framework for smart IoHT application with 5G technology (healthcare 5.0) is needed. Research teams have come to trust the EEG features because of their reliability, durability and universality. Fortunately, the testing paradigm's restricted functionality and poor classification accuracy have kept an EEG-based identity authentication scheme from being widely seen in IoHT scenarios. However, due to unsatisfactory categories and the failure of a reliable identity authentication scheme, it remains important in research challenges. This research presents the design of an EEG identity authentication system supported via convolutional neural network classification includes cloud support storage methodology in the healthcare 5.0 environment, resulting in extremely high reliability, consistency and protection for the next generation of smart systems. The experimental results indicate that the accuracy and efficacy of the user authentication expect a higher legal probability of success and a lower unauthorized likelihood of success from a safety perspective. As compared to other frameworks, traditional EEG-based authorization approaches test results to reveal that the proposed methodology yields the desired classification accuracy of 97.6%. The experiment performance on an authentication scenario is structured to prove that the proposed method is efficient, reliable and accurate