An Analysis of Factors Causing Socio-Economic Impacts of The Urban Sprawl: A Case Study on Wattala-Mabole Urban Council Area and its Outskirts, Sri Lanka

Urban expansion in adjacent areas has been addressed by different dimensions depending on the context. Sri Lanka is gradually developing, and urban areas have mostly expanded in an unplanned manner resulting in uncontrolled urban sprawl in their new territories. Similarly, the Wattala-Mabole urban council area also has a site of urban sprawling. The main objective of this research is to identify and analyze the different factors which generate the socio-economic impacts of the urban sprawl in the study area. Further, the paper examines the challenges and opportunities of urban sprawl in the urban council and its surrounding areas. The methodological steps for the study include a questionnaire survey and interviews, and secondary data for the spatial analysis. Moreover, the spatial data have been analyzed through geographic information system applications. This study identified major factors of the urban sprawl which generate socio-economic impacts such as ‘monthly household income impacts the accommodation of the community, and unemployment causes robbery and illegal activities.’ Moreover, the rapid growth of urban council outskirts causes an increase in land value unaffordability. It was stated by the urban council that the service industries, warehouses, and massive production factories have utilized most of the low-lying lands in the outskirt area at comparatively low prices. Hence, this rejuvenated urban growth. Further, the study found that some people who are living in urban fringes gain economic benefits due to the urban sprawl by providing accommodations to the migrants, and having more business opportunities and demand for goods. However, both the urban and outskirt dwellers face socio-economic and environment related problems due to the urban sprawl. Thus, national and local governments should step ahead and implement policies to overcome the issues of the community. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v08i01.0

The Impact of Greenery in the Window View on Visual Sustained Attention with Special Reference to Classrooms of Children with Down Syndrome

One in every 700 babies worldwide is born with an intellectual disability such as Down Syndrome (DS), Autism Spectrum disorders, Cerebral Palsy etc. Architecture significantly enhances users’ development skills by leveraging the environment to fulfill their mental and psychological needs, particularly by boosting sustained attention in learning spaces. Based on existing literature, this research focused on the impact of greenery in window view of the classroom on visual sustained attention (VSA) of children with DS. Data of 19 participants (10 male, 9 female) of a selected school in the ages of 9 – 16 years (mean age – 11.42 years) was collected on existing and introduced levels of greenery in window view using three dimensional simulations and analysed. The study revealed that the introduction of 40% to 60% of greenery at far view depth (Scenario B) has a positive impact on VSA over both the existing window view (Scenario A) and the window view with 80% to 100% greenery (Scenario C). However, scenario C did not show any positive impact over scenario B as assumed. One reason for this could be the inclusion of the sky view in scenario B, and the findings indicate that introduction of greenery in the window view has a positive impact on VSA of children with DS, if the sky view is maintained. These findings can be used towards a design framework for classrooms in the future contexts of education in Sri Lanka

Selenate-enriched urea granules are a highly effective fertilizer for selenium biofortification of paddy rice grain

Citation: Premarathna, Lakmalie, Mike J. McLaughlin, Jason K. Kirby, Ganga M. Hettiarachchi, Samuel Stacey, and David J. Chittleborough. “Selenate-Enriched Urea Granules Are a Highly Effective Fertilizer for Selenium Biofortification of Paddy Rice Grain.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 60, no. 23 (June 13, 2012): 6037–44. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf3005788.We examined the effects of applied selenium (Se) species, time of application, method of application and soil water management regime on accumulation of Se in rice plants. Plants were grown to maturity in a temperature- and humidity-controlled growth chamber using three water management methods: field capacity (FC), submerged until harvest, and submerged and drained two weeks before harvest; two Se species: selenate (SeO[subscript 4] ˉ²) and selenite (SeO[subscript 3]ˉ²) applied at a rate equivalent to 30 g haˉ¹; and four application methods: i) Se applied at soil preparation, ii) Se-enriched urea granules applied to floodwater at heading iii) foliar Se applied at heading and iv) fluid fertilizer Se applied to soil or floodwater at heading. Total Se concentrations in rice grains, husks, leaves, culms and roots were measured, as well as Se speciation in grains from the Se-enriched urea granule treatment. Highest Se concentrations in the grain occurred with SeO[subscript 4] ˉ² and with fertilizer applied at heading stage; SeO[subscript 4]ˉ²-enriched urea granules applied at heading increased grain Se concentrations 5 to 6 fold (by 450-600 μg kgˉ¹) compared to the control (no fertilizer Se applied) in all water treatments. Under paddy conditions other Se fertilization strategies were much less effective. Drainage before harvesting caused Se to accumulate in/on rice roots, possibly through adsorption onto iron plaque on roots. Rice grains contained Se mainly in the organic form as selenomethionine (SeM) which comprised over 90 % of the total grain Se in treatments fertilized with SeO[subscript 4]ˉ² -enriched urea granules. The results of this study clearly show of the fertilizer strategies tested that biofortification of Se in rice grains can best be achieved in lowland rice by broadcast application of SeO[subscript 4]ˉ² -enriched urea granules to floodwater at heading stage

Generation gap, gender and shopping enjoyment of shopping mall visitors in western province Sri Lanka

Purpose: Going shopping is a major source of relaxation as well as a daily household chore. However, shopping enjoyment is a burgeoning and rather novel concept, and thus, there is a lack of studies within the cohort, especially with regard to the comparison of the shopping experiences of different generations. This paper explores the nature of shopping enjoyment and measures the impact of the generation gap and gender on visitors’ shopping enjoyment in shopping malls, which records a thriving interest. Design/methodology/approach: In a qualitative survey deploying a convenience sample, 379 usable responses were collected through a self-administered questionnaire from shopping mall visitors in the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Data were analyzed using SPSS (21.0). Findings: Findings of the study indicated that all four generations considered the atmosphere and the environment to be the most important dimensions. Empirical evidence further suggested that Generation Z and Y have the highest enjoyment in their shopping journey within malls compared to other generations, confirming that youth shoppers are the emerging target group for such businesses. Interestingly, it evidenced that shopping is not remaining as a gendered activity anymore, since it is pleasurable for both females and males. Originality: This paper makes a significant contribution to the field by studying shopping enjoyment as a multi-dimensional construct in relation to four generations while being the first such attempt at studying this phenomenon. Implications: Findings are useful for retailers to identify target customers and lucrative markets. Further, shopping malls are required to design to provide more experiences and engagements to customers as a space for pleasure, enjoyment, and entertainment. &nbsp

Phylogenetic and chemo-ecological aspects affecting the host selection behaviour of the thistle tortoise beetle Cassida rubiginosa

Most species of insects are selective feeders that not only choose the plant but also choose specific plant organs. Insect host-finding behaviour involves several cues such as olfactory, visual, tactile and gustatory. The responses to these cues depend on the context in which the signals are perceived and on the host-insect system. Knowing the process of host-finding behaviour of insects is important for management practices. The oligophagous, chrysomelid beetle Cassida rubiginosa was introduced to New Zealand in 2007 mainly to control Cirsium arvense (Californian thistle), one of the most noxious weeds found in the world. New Zealand does not have any native thistles and very few economically important ones. Therefore, there is potential for using this beetle to target secondary weeds and to better manage the beetle for weed biocontrol. Host selection behaviour of the beetle was investigated by conducting experiments in a phylogenetic context giving emphasis to chemical cues. Host range was investigated for constitutive volatiles as well as induced volatiles. Host-range testing with constitutive volatiles was conducted by using 19 Asteraceae plants (16 Cardueae and 3 non-Cardueae) which were selected according to phylogeny. A series of single-choice and dual-choice olfactometer experiments and adult host-choice experiments were carried out investigating the beetles’ choice of constitutive volatiles. Adult host-choice experiments were performed to test the feeding and oviposition preference of the beetle. Volatiles were induced by conspecific larval damage and 13 Cardueae plant species were used. Using induced volatiles, the differential attraction of C. rubiginosa in olfactometer experiments comparing undamaged leaves with conspecific larval damaged leaves was investigated. Volatiles were collected and analysed using GC-MS. Compatibility of the beetle can change according to other biocontrol agents. Investigations were carried out with two fungal pathogens (Puccinia punctiformis and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum) infesting C. arvense by studying the olfactory behaviour of adult C. rubiginosa towards fungus-infected C. arvense. A series of olfactometer experiments were conducted to evaluate the host selection of the beetle; dual-choice experiments were performed to investigate its feeding preference. Adult beetles were given the choice between healthy thistle leaves and leaves infected by one of the pathogens. Volatiles were collected from healthy and fungus-infected plants and analysed using GC-MS. The multi-targeting biocontrol potential of C. rubiginosa was tested with marsh thistle (Cirsium palustre), a species closely related to the primary host and shown to be equally preferred in previous experiments. To test if the beetle can reduce the fitness of marsh thistle a potted plant experiment was established with four treatments (0, 50, 100 and 200 larvae/plant). Plant growth (width, height and number of branches) and reproductive performance (number of flowers, seeds, seed weight and % germination) parameters were measured. The results show that as phylogenetic distance from the primary host plant increases, the beetles’ preference for alternative hosts decreases. This was the case for all three parameters: olfactory choice for constitutive volatiles, feeding and oviposition preference. Olfactory experiments showed similar host range to host-choice experiments across the Cardueae tribe. When presented with herbivore-induced volatiles (HIPVs) the beetle increased attraction towards five hosts that it was not attracted to when tested with constitutive volatiles. Chemical compounds such as cis-β-ocimene and β-caryophyllene were detected in the HIPVs blend in the five species of plants that showed beetle attraction, expanding the olfactory host range of the beetle. However, the beetles’ attraction towards C. arvense was reduced when infected with the biotrophic rust fungus P. punctiformis while the necrotroph S. sclerotiorum had no effect. Both pathogens, however, reduced adult beetle leaf consumption. Volatile profiles showed a unique blend of compounds where the P. punctiformis-infected thistle leaves were characterised by the emission of benzenoids and indole, S. sclerotiorum-infected leaves by green leaf volatiles. Thus, having multiple biocontrol agents can reduce the efficacy of at least one of the involved agents and should be taken into consideration. The multi-targeting potential of the beetle is predicted to follow the phylogenetic trend in host preference. As such, the greatest multi-targeting potential is likely for the equally preferred species, particularly the Cirsium and Carduus genera. Though the beetle was found to be equally attracted to C. palustre in all of the experiments, it did not show an effect in reducing C. palustre individual plant growth or reproductive performance under the imposed experimental conditions. If the beetle is to have an impact on other thistle weeds, it will likely need to attack early growth stages (seedlings), or smaller size classes of plants to prevent reproduction

FACTORS LIMITING SEED GERMINATION IN Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea GAERTN f. AND Pempilis acidula J R & FORST

Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea is a highly threatened true mangrove confined to JafTna and asingle locality in Kalpitiya (Trimen 1974; Dassanayake and Clayton 1998). Pemphisacidula is restricted to small pockets in few coastal areas. Both produce fruits and seedsnevertheless, seedlings were not observed in their natural habitats. Factors governing seedgermination in these two species were studied. For all experiments, randomly collected ripe.seed samples were used within two weeks of collection. Moist filter paper method was usedand daily observations were recorded.In P. acidula, seed production was 100%. Percentage of fruit bearing seeds was 10% in S.hydrophyllacea, but none of them gave rise to healthy seedlings. Seed germination of bothspecies was 0% in water collected from respective natural habitats. In P. acidula%germination was 35% in 75% and 40% in 87.5% dilution of water from natural habitat.In distilled water, 65% of the seeds germinated. Continuous washing of seeds in runningtap water increased percentage germination to 75%.Dormancy breaking treatments such as heat treatment, seed nicking, acid base treatment,cold treatment and treatment with gibberellic acid did not increase germination abovenormal 65% value.Exposure to natural light, photoperiod and oxygen level also affected seed germination.Analysis of data consisted of ANa VA at 5% level of significance using Minitab package.In P. acidula, salinity of soil water (up to 34 ppt) and salt deposits on seed coat seem to bemajor causes hindering seed germination in natural habitat. Seeds buried ill sand may alsonot receive adequate amount of light (Isikawa 1962; Fujii 1962). Oxygen concentrationmay 1I0tbe enough when the ground is covered with water during tides. Lack of seedlingsmay therefore be due to lack of seed germination under natural conditions.In S. hydrophyllacea, very low percentage of seed bearing fruits and inability to producehealthy seedlings explain why it has become highly threatened. Production of large numberof seedless fruits and inability to produce normal seedlings could be due to genetic disorderin seeds, which is a very common phenomenon known as inbreeding depression inisolated, small populations.Presence of self-sterility and the absence of pollinator niight be some other reasons. Hence,studies on the possibility of propagating S. hydrophyllacea by vegetative means areurgently needed to conserve this highly threatened tree species.

Incidence of some pathogenic organisms in cultured shrimp (penaeus monodon) collected from Chilaw

Samples offarm shrimp and pond water were collectedfrom Chi/aw. Totalbacterial counts of coliforms and Escherichia coli are reportedfor these samples.Pathogens Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Salmonella along with qualitativemicroflora are also reported.The bacterial counts of water rangedfrom 5 x 102/gto 8.8 x 103/g whereasthat of shrimp rangedfrom 2.0 x IO"/g to 9.0 x lO'/g. E. coli. ranged from 3 toII/g for prawns 3/I00ml. to 49/I00ml. for pond water. Two shrimp sampleswere positive for v. parahaemolyticus bacterial counts, coliforms or E. colicounts did not show any correlation with water salinity, which rangedfrom 14-18ppt,Gram positive bacteria were predominant in shrimp and were representedby Micrococci (41.8%). Corynebacterium (19.3%) and Bacillus (14.2%).Common gram-negatives were Vibrios (19.2%) and Pseudomonas (5%)

Fate of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Coated onto Macronutrient Fertilizers in an Alkaline Calcareous Soil

Citation: Milani, N., Hettiarachchi, G. M., Kirby, J. K., Beak, D. G., Stacey, S. P., & McLaughlin, M. J. (2015). Fate of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Coated onto Macronutrient Fertilizers in an Alkaline Calcareous Soil. Plos One, 10(5), 16. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126275Zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles may provide a more soluble and plant available source of Zn in Zn fertilizers due to their greater reactivity compared to equivalent micron-or millimetresized (bulk) particles. However, the effect of soil on solubility, spatial distribution and speciation of ZnO nanoparticles has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the diffusion and solid phase speciation of Zn in an alkaline calcareous soil following application of nanoparticulate and bulk ZnO coated fertilizer products (monoammonium phosphate (MAP) and urea) using laboratory-based x-ray techniques and synchrotron-based mu-x-ray fluorescence (mu-XRF) mapping and absorption fine structure spectroscopy (mu-XAFS). Mapping of the soil-fertilizer reaction zones revealed that most of the applied Zn for all treatments remained on the coated fertilizer granule or close to the point of application after five weeks of incubation in soil. Zinc precipitated mainly as scholzite (CaZn2(PO4)(2)center dot 2H(2)O) and zinc ammonium phosphate (Zn(NH4)PO4) species at the surface of MAP granules. These reactions reduced dissolution and diffusion of Zn from the MAP granules. Although Zn remained as zincite (ZnO) at the surface of urea granules, limited diffusion of Zn from ZnO-coated urea granules was also observed for both bulk and nanoparticulate ZnO treatments. This might be due to either the high pH of urea granules, which reduced solubility of Zn, or aggregation (due to high ionic strength) of released ZnO nanoparticles around the granule/point of application. The relative proportion of Zn(OH)(2) and ZnCO3 species increased for all Zn treatments with increasing distance from coated MAP and urea granules in the calcareous soil. When coated on macronutrient fertilizers, Zn from ZnO nanoparticles (without surface modifiers) was not more mobile or diffusible compared to bulk forms of ZnO. The results also suggest that risk associated with the presence of ZnO NPs in calcareous soils would be the same as bulk sources of ZnO

A SURVEY OF THE MARKET AVAILABILITY AND ITS POTENTIAL FOR NON-WOOD FOREST PRODUCTS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO MEDICINAL PLANTS AND CANE

Forests provide numerous benefits other than timber and fuelwood and these arecalled non-wood forest products. They playa vital role especially in the ruraleconomy and provide benefits of considerable importance at the national level.Despite an escalating demand, these non wood forest products do not entermarkets directly due to the absence of proper marketing channels. Thisdiscourage primary collectors, do not warrant for sustainable collection of theproduce in the wild and the possible planting of the resources.This study was conducted to assess the current market situation for non-woodforest products with special reference to medicinal plants and cane with a view tomake recommendations for the improvement of the marketing situation in thisregard.Data were collected from plant collectors, small scale regional buyers andwholesale dealers by way of questionnaires and interviews. To collectinformation on medicinal plants 4 areas where medicinal plants are very muchabundant were selected, viz. Ritigala (Anuradhapura District), Rajawakaa·(Ratnapura District), Kanneliya (Galle District) and Bibile (Moneragala District).With regard to Cane, the most abundant areas; Manampitiya (PolonnaruwaDistrict) and BaduraJiya (Kalutara District) were selected. Further, data were alsocollected from wholesale dealers of medicinal plants at Gabo's Lane andayurvedic product manufacturers. With regard to cane, product manufacturers atRadawadunna were interviewed. Secondary data were collected from institutions.The results revealed that both medicinal plants and cane are being collected in aunsustainable manner. As the existing marketing situation is disorganised, themiddle man is benefited most while the collectors do not reap much benefit fortheir labour. Majority of the crude medicinal plant materials are still importedwhile there is very low value addition to the material that is exported. Most of theraw cane too is imported. The cane available in the country do not fetch a gooddemand as it is considered as low quality. Most of the people engaged in thesebusinesses do not use the facilities offered by the banks very much possiblythrough unawareness.The following recommendations emanated from the study to improve themarketing situation with regard to the above industries in the country;introduction of sustainable methods of collection, planting of the produce incountry as large medium scale plantations, improving the quality of products andvalue addition and making the people more aware for the facilities provided byfinancial organizations to improve the industries.