Definition of Definition

There is an inseparable link between human existence and communication. Words are exchanged externally through all forms of communication, but in reality, what is exchanged there is its driving force: the meaning. For this reason, it is significant to know the meaning of a word. Although the meaning of a word is determined by its definition, the existence of a set of definitions for a single word raises a fundamental problem for us, the researchers whether it could be so. Based on that, this study was conducted with the primary objective of finding the definition of definition. The contextual nature of the study, language used to collect data and the time frame limited the researchers to use qualitative reasoning and literary sources. The study confirmed that scholars are in a constant struggle for more than two millennia in searching a way to find the meaning of a word. We found that the generation of new knowledge sometimes might be hampered by a gap in the existing knowledge on language and the inability to reach certain sources of knowledge. Referring to rarely referred local literary sources, we could conclude the definition of a definition while introducing a novel approach on verifying available literary information. Thus, the academia is aided, as the authors fostered novel ways of questioning the definition of the definition, which would help the scholars to set conceptual and operational definitions in their respective researches.             KEYWORDS:  Definition, Inner Form, Nirukti, Sound of a Word, Verifying Informatio

EFFECTS OF INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS ON NON-PERFORMING LOANS IN STATE BANKS OF SRI LANKA

Non-Performing Loans (NPL) is a significant phenomenon especially in the State Banks of Sri Lanka. This is a typical feature in the majority of the banks in Asian countries. NPL arise based on several reasons. Among them, this study examines the significance of the institutional factors on Non-Performing loans. The population comprised of loan borrowers from State banks in Sri Lanka. Sample comprised 102 loan borrowers selected through random sampling from selected state banks in Western Province that borrowed loans during 2013-2018.. Data was collected through a questionnaire based on 08 variables identified through literature review and analyzed using independent sample t tests. Results show except management efficiency all other variables influenced on NPL. Policies should formulate to mitigate the effects of influential variables.&nbsp

Search in weighted complex networks

We study trade-offs presented by local search algorithms in complex networks which are heterogeneous in edge weights and node degree. We show that search based on a network measure, local betweenness centrality (LBC), utilizes the heterogeneity of both node degrees and edge weights to perform the best in scale-free weighted networks. The search based on LBC is universal and performs well in a large class of complex networks.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, minor changes, added a referenc

STUDIES ON DORMANCY AND GERMINATION DYNAMICS OF Macaranga peltata(KANDA), AN EARLY SUCCESSIONAL SPECIES

Macaranga peltata is one of the most widely occurring early successional woodyspecies, specially in low country wet zone. Although Macaranga spreadsprofusely by seeds, the seed biology and germination behavior has not beenstudied. According to the preliminary studies, it was revealed that, thegerminability of freshly isolated seeds is very low. Therefore this work wasundertaken to understand the germination behavior and measures to enhance seedgermination of Macaranga. The study was conducted during May-July, 2000, atthe faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Mapalana, kamburupitiya, SriLanka.Three treatments used, i.e. mechanical scarification using sand papers (T I),Chemical scarification using H2S04 acid (T2) and hormone treatment using GA(T3)' with the control. Fully ripened seeds were harvested and thoroughly washedto remove the peel and air-dried for one day. Dried seeds were treated asindicated above and placed in petri dishes containing sand media and allowed togerminate. Three replications were used for each treatment and percentage ofgermination was recorded at 7,14,21 and 28 days after planting.Germination of Macaranga seeds started after 14-21 days in control by afterseven days in treated seeds. Mechanical and chemical scarifications were noteffecting in increasing the percentage of germination significantly. But thegibberelic acid treatment has made a tremendous important in the percentage ofgermination and at the same time resulted in significant reduction it time taken forgermination. Although scarification treatments may have improved permeabilityof seed coat, it has not contributed to the germinability of seeds, the significantimpact made by GA treatment both in increasing and accelerating the germinationprobably reveals that there exists a dormancy in Macaranga seeds which is ofphysiological or metabolic in nature GA treatment of more effectively at higherconcentration: (20mm) was capable of breaking the dormancy and thus enhancedgermination.

IMPORTANCE OF IMPROVING BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY OF TEA SOILS IN SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF SRI LANKA.

The detrimental effects of soil pesticides on soil micro biota and biodiversity of the teaecosystem are poorly understood. In the current study, microbial activity in southern teasoils of Sri Lanka as affected by application of commonly used soil pesticides and certaincultural practices was evaluated by m-:asuring the soil respiration in vitro and in vivo.CO2 evolution rates in Southern tea soils were generally low as compared to soils in otherareas. Herbicide and formalin applications significantly (p=O.005) suppressed thebiological activity of Southern tea soils; the nematicide tested was less effective.Incorporation of compost and tea waste significantly (p=O.005) elevated CO2 evolution ratein tea soils than that of in undisturbed, virgin forest soils. Forking strengthened microbialbiomass through improved soil physical conditions. Soil biomass was positively correlatedwith growth of the test plants viz tea and tomatoSouthern tea soils with low organic matter contents arc exposed to repeated application ofherbicides and negligence of important agronomic practices due to labour shortage. Suchmalpractices could aggravate potential build up of pesticide residues in the soil. Thus,improvement of soil organic matter status by incorporation of various organic amendments,establishment of green manure crops, rehabilitation of old tea soils and more importantly,restricted usage of agro-chemicals etc. is essential. These practices will assure long-termsustainable productivity and quality of soils as well as help degrade accumulated chemicalresidues and elevate densities of soil microbial communities. As a consequence, increasedefficacy of bio control of nematodes and soil borne pathogens and proper administration ofnatural nutrient cycles could be envisaged.

Transforming Weather Index-Based Crop Insurance in India: Protecting Small Farmers from Distress. Status and a Way Forward. Research Report IDC-8

In India, agriculture contributes 14% of the GDP and employs 54% of the workforce (NCAER 2013). It accounts for 8.56% of the country’s exports. Despite agriculture’s steady decline in share in the GDP, it remains the largest economic sector and plays a significant role in the country’s overall socioeconomic development. However, agriculture is fundamentally a risky economic activity, particularly for small and marginal farm households because the climate risks, including aberrant rainfall, and natural calamities and input risks have a significant impact on yields. Low investment potential combined with poor coping ability render farming households vulnerable to debt and poverty traps in the face of adverse weather shocks. It is estimated that about 60% of the variation in yield can be attributed to various weather-related shocks. Since 70% of crop production in India is subject to the vagaries of the monsoon, crop insurance has been in existence through many public sector insurance companies for decades. Different agricultural insurance products have been tried out on a limited, ad-hoc and scattered manner..

Pigeonpea Baseline and Early Adoption Surveys in South Asia, Insights from TL-II (Phase 1) Project in India.

Pigeonpea is an important pulse crop particularly in the semi-arid tropics of India contributing towards the nutritional security and also generates significant income to small and marginal farmers. Its share in India’s pulse production is around 16%. India is the largest pigeonpea producing country in the world accounting for nearly 67% of the total production. Being a major pigeonpea consumer in the world, India imports around 0.6 million tons of pigeonpea per year to meet the domestic needs from Africa, Nepal and Myanmar. Area and production of pigeonpea in India showed a steady growth until recently. However, the productivity in the country has stagnated between 700 and 800 kg ha-1. Recent initiatives like National Food Security Mission (NFSM), Accelerated Pulse Production Programme (A3P) and enhancement of minimum support price created more interest in pigeonpea growers in the country. Pigeonpea is one of the mandate crops of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and this premier international institute has been contributing significantly to the genetic improvement and crop management in India and Africa during the last four decades. The generous support received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has provided ICRISAT an opportunity to work more intensively with its research and development partners to demonstrate the potential of new technologies to enhance the yields, raise the profitability and revive the interest of the farmers in pigeonpea crop in India and the strategy chosen is farmer participatory varietal selection (FPVS). This report synthesizes the efforts made under the Tropical Legumes-II Project during the short period of three years (2007-10) in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra for pigeonpea crop improvement in India. Overall, the FPVS results established that the new improved varieties outyielded the respective check varieties in the two states. The diffusion and adoption of these varieties increased significantly in the targeted districts. From the past lessons learnt, the report re-focuses on further efforts needed during the second phase of the project to achieve greater success and impact

Aberration-corrected electron microscopy of nanoparticles

The early history of scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) is reviewed as a way to frame the technical issues that make aberration correction an essential upgrade for the study of nanoparticles using STEM. The principles of aberration correction are explained, and the use of aberration-corrected microscopy in the study of nanostructures is exemplified in order to remark the features and challenges in the use of this measuring techniqu