Applicability of Pressure Retarded Osmosis Power Generation Technology in Sri Lanka

AbstractIn this study the applicability of pressure retarded osmosis power generation was investigated in order to fulfil current electricity demand in Sir Lanka. Pressure retarded osmosis (PRO) process is a renewable and green technology with zero carbon emission to the environment. Salinity gradient through a membrane is the key parameter in osmotic pressure development. Theoretically it is a pressure increment of 26bar which is equivalent to 270 m high water column for fixed volume of salt water compartment. This hydrostatic pressure can be used to generate electricity by sending pressurized water through a turbine. According to the literature, 1 MW electricity generation requires 1m3/s flow of fresh water.Sri Lanka has a great potential to develop this technology as it is surrounded by sea. Subsequently the country is having 103 number of water rich river basins over the country. Currently the electricity demand of the entire country is about 2100MW and it is already being supplied by both hydro and thermal power plant. The country spends an immense amount of money for the thermal power generation in every year. This can be reduced by introducing PRO power generation. Calculations over the PRO power generation reveal that it is possible to generate 7.84% of country energy requirement via some selected river basins through this technology

Income Distributions, Inequality, and Poverty in Asia, 1992–2010

Income distributions for developing countries in Asia are modeled using beta-2 distributions, which are estimated by a method of moments procedure applied to grouped data. Estimated parameters of these distributions are used to calculate measures of inequality, poverty, and pro-poor growth in four time periods over 1992–2010. Changes in these measures are examined for 11 countries, with a major focus on the People’s Republic of China (PRC), India, and Indonesia, which are separated into rural and urban regions. We find that the PRC has grown rapidly with increasing inequality accompanying this growth. India has been relatively stagnant. Indonesia has grown rapidly after suffering an initial set back from the Asian financial crisis in 1997

Magnetization and Magneto-resistance in Y(Ba1-xSrx)2Cu3O7-{\delta} (x = 0.00 - 0.50) superconductor

Here we present the magnetic properties and upper critical field (BC2) of polycrystalline Y(Ba1-xSrx)2Cu3O7-{\delta} superconductors, which are being determined through detailed ac/dc susceptibility and resistivity under magnetic field (RTH) study. All the samples are synthesized through solid state reaction route. Reduction in Meissner fraction (the ratio of field cooled to zero field cooled magnetization) is observed with increasing Sr content, suggesting occurrence of flux pining in the doped samples. The ac susceptibility and resistivity measurements reveal improved grain couplings in Sr substituted samples. Consequently the inter-grain critical current density (Jc), upturn curvature near the Tc in temperature dependence of upper critical field [BC2(T)], and BC2 are enhanced. Both Jc and BC2 increase in lower Sr substitution (up to x = 0.10) samples followed by decrease in higher doping due to degradation in effective pining and grain coupling.Comment: 17 pages text + Figs, [email protected]

Crop damage by Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) in Ekgaloya and Dewalahinda areas in Ampara District, Eastern province, Sri Lanka

Article Details: Received: 2020-04-21 | Accepted: 2020-09-04 | Available online: 2021-03-31https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.01.47-54Sri Lanka is one of the Asian countries to support a considerable number of wild elephants mainly in the dry zone of the country. But today elephants have become one of the most seriously endangered large mammals in Sri Lanka and the world as well. Agricultural crop damage by elephants has become a most common and serious problem across the elephant range in Sri Lanka due to negative interaction of people and the elephants. Eastern province is one of such areas where severe crop damage by wild elephants could be observed. In these areas, most of the directly affected families are having low income level. For this common problem, still there is no proper mitigation plans to lower the impacts. Therefore, this study focused on the analysis of economic losses to cultivated crops, identify the most vulnerable crop species and suggest viable control measures to minimize this problem to a certain extent in the area. This study was carried out in two villages within one cropping season under two stages. Household survey including randomly selected 50 villagers from each village was conducted. Highest crop damage incidents were recorded in Dewalahinda area. Of the widely grown crop varieties, maize (Zea mays) and paddy (Oryza sativa) are subjected to heavy damage in both villages. Paddy and maize were reported as damage crop species by wild elephants in Ekgaloya and 19 households (out of 33) suffered due to that crop raiding incident. Out of 38 crop damage incidents in Dewalahinda, 28 households reported damages in maize and 26 household reported damages in paddy. Wild elephants have shown a least interest on some crop varieties such as chilli (Capsicum annum), ladies’ finger (Hibiscus esculentus) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea).  But these crop fields were heavily damaged by elephants as they walk across these fields. In both villages, the harvesting period seemed to be affected more by crop damages than other times. However, the post harvesting period was also affected occasionally especially in stored paddy.Keywords: endangered, socio-economic, cropping season, vulnerable crop species, Macroscopic analysisReferencesBandara, R. (2010). Willingness to pay for conservation of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka. The Economics of Ecosystems & Biodiversity, 1–6. http://www.teebweb.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/Human-elephant-conflict-mitigationthrough-insurance-scheme-Sri-Lanka.pdfBandara, R. and Tisdell, C. (2003). Comparison of rural and urban attitudes to the conservation of Asian elephants in Sri Lanka: Empirical evidence. Biological Conservation, 110(3), 327–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0006-3207(02)00241-0Bandara, R. and Tisdell, C. (2005). Changing abundance of elephants and willingness to pay for their conservation. Journal of Environmental Management, 76(1), 47–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2005.01.007Brown, J. L., Göritz, F., Pratt-Hawkes, N., Hermes, R., Galloway, M., Graham, L. H., Gray, C., Walker, S. L., Gomez, A., Moreland, R., Murray, S., Schmitt, D. L., Howard, J. G., Lehnhardt, J., Beck, B., Bellem, A., Montali, R. and Hildebrandt, T. B. (2004). Successful artificial insemination of an asian elephant at the national zoological park. Zoo Biology, 23(1), 45–63. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.10116Campos-Arceiz, A., Larrinaga, A.R., Weerasinghe, U.R., Takatsuki, S., Pastorini, J., Leimgruber, P., Prithiviraj, F. and Santamaría, L. (2008). Behavior Rather than Diet Mediates Seasonal Differences in Seed Dispersal by Asian Elephants. Ecology, 89(10), 2684-91. doi: https://doi.org/10.1890/07-1573.1de Silva, S. (2010). On predicting elephant population dynamics. Gajah, (33), 12–16.Ekanayaka, S., Campos-Arceiz, A., Rupasinghe, M., Pastorini, J. and Fernando, P. (2011). Patterns of crop raiding by Asian elephants in a human-dominated landscape in Southeastern Sri Lanka. Gajah, (34), 20–25. https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-59040Fernando, P., Jayewardene, J., Prasad, T. and Hendavitharana, W. (2011). Current Status of Asian Elephants in Sri Lanka. Gajah, (35), 93–103. Hedges, S. and Gunaryadi, D. (2010). Reducing human-elephant conflict: Do chillies help deter elephants from entering crop fields? Oryx, 44(1), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605309990093Hedges, S. and Gunaryadi, D. (2010). Reducing human-elephant conflict: Do chillies help deter elephants from entering crop fields? Oryx, 44(1), 139–146. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605309990093Lorimer, J. (2010). Elephants as companion species: The lively biogeographies of Asian elephant conservation in Sri Lanka. Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers, 35(4), 491–506. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-5661.2010.00395.xPlotnik, J. M., De Waal, F. B. M. and Reiss, D. (2006). Self-recognition in an Asian elephant. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0608062103Pozo, R. A., Coulson, T., Mcculloch, G. A. S. and Songhurst, A. (2017). Chilli-briquettes modify the temporal behaviour of elephants, but not their numbers. Oryx, 53(1), 100– 108. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605317001235Santiapillai, C. and Read, B. (2010). Would masking the smell of ripening paddy-fields help mitigate humanelephant conflict in Sri Lanka? Oryx, 44(4), 509–511. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605310000906Santiapillai, C., Suva, A., Karyawasam, C., Esufali, S., Jayaniththi, S., Basnayake, M., Unantenne, V. and Wijeyamohan, S. (1999). Trade in Asian elephant ivory in Sri Lanka. Oryx, 33(2), 176–180. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3008.1999.00041.xSantiapillai, C., Wijeyamohan, S., Bandara, G., Athurupana, R., Dissanayake, N. and Read, B. (2010). An  assessment of the human-elephant conflict in Sri Lanka. Ceylon Journal of Science (Biological Sciences), 39(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.4038/cjsbs.v39i1.2350Shrestha, K. (2018). Zero tillage impacts on economics of  wheat production in far western Nepal. Farming & Management, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.31830/2456-8724.2018.0002.14Sukumar, R. (1989). Ecology of the asian elephant in southern india. i. movement and habitat utilization patterns. Journal of Tropical Ecology, 5(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467400003175Survey Department of Sri Lanka. (1987). Map of Ekgal Oya and Devalahinda, 1 : 10,000. Geo Information, No 150, Kirula Road, Narahenpita, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka.Wang, L., Lin, L., He, Q., Zhang, J. and Zhang, L. (2007). Analysis of nutrient components of food for Asian elephants in the wild and in captivity. Frontiers of Biology in China, 2(3), 351– 355. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11515-007-0052-0Webber, C. E., Sereivathana, T., Maltby, M. P. and Lee, P. C. (2011). Elephant crop-raiding and human-elephant conflict in Cambodia: Crop selection and seasonal timings of raids. Oryx, 45(2), 243–251. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003060531000033

The Moderating Effect of Gender on Self-Image and House Purchase Intention in Sri Lanka

Self-image is one of the major consumer behaviour constructs that play a major role in house purchase intention. In this context, moderating impact of gender between self-image and house purchasing intention is uncertain and ambiguous. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of gender moderation on the relationship between self-image and house purchasing intention. The quantitative research method was used for this study. Potential luxury housing buyers in Sri Lanka were used as a population of the study and a structured questionnaire survey was conducted to collect data. The sample size of the study is 100.  Four hypotheses were developed for the study and those hypothesized were analysed using Partial Least Square (PLS) analysis. The findings reveal that actual self-image and house purchase intention have a significant positive relationship and there is no relationship between ideal self-image and house purchase intention. Further, the study failed to support that gender moderates the relationship between self-image (actual and ideal) and house purchasing intention. The present findings of the study will be beneficial for real estate developers, real estate marketers/managers, and academia, relating to the house purchase intention in the luxury housing market. © 2022 The Authors. Published by Department of Estate Management and Valuation, University of Sri Jayewardenepura.   Keywords: Consumer Behaviour, Self-image, Actual Self-image, Ideal self-image, House Purchase Intention, House Buying Behaviou

Do we achieve LDL-cholesterol targets in routine clinical practice? Evidence from a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka

Background: Statins are widely used for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). European Society of Cardiology / European Atherosclerosis Society (ESC/EAS) guidelines recommend LDL-cholesterol targets based on CVD risk.Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether LDL-cholesterol targets recommended by2016 ESC/EASare achieved in routine clinical practice.Methods: This paper is based on baseline data of patients recruited to a controlled clinical trial conducted at a tertiary care hospital. Participants have been on atorvastatin for >2 months. Demographic and clinical data were obtained using clinic records and interviewer administered questionnaires. LDL-cholesterol was assessed using Friedewald equation (when triglyceride was <400mg/dL) or by direct measurement (when triglyceride was ≥400mg/dL). Each participant’s CVD risk level and appropriate LDL-cholesterol target (very-high CVD risk:<70mg/dL; high CVD risk:<100mg/dL; low to moderate CVD risk:<115mg/dL) was determined according to 2016 ESC/EAS Guideline.Results: 101 patients were studied. (Women: 76.2%; mean-age: 61.2:±9.3years). Prevalence of coronary heart disease, ischaemic stroke, diabetes, hypertension and smoking was 30.7%, 4%, 77.2%, 80.2% and 4%, respectively. According to CVD risk level 80.2%, 15.8% and 4% were in very-high, high and moderate risk categories, respectively. Most were on atorvastatin 10mg (45.5%) followed by 20mg (43.6%), 40mg (8.9%), 30mg (1%) and 5mg (1%). Median duration of treatment was 41-months. Overall, only 12.9% had achieved target LDL-cholesterol (very-high risk: 7.4%; high risk: 37.5%, moderate risk: 25%; p=0.003). Men did better than women in achieving target LDL-cholesterol (men: 29.2%, women: 7.8%; p=006). There was no difference based on age, comorbidities or atorvastatin dose.Conclusions: In the study population majority has failed to achieve LDL-cholesterol targets recommended by 2016 ESC/EAS. Failure to achieve targets was more common among women and those having very-high CVD risk. Reason for suboptimal target achievement has to be studied further.Acknowledgement: Funded by University of Sri Jayewardenepura Research Grant (ASP/01/RE/MED/2015/54) and Ceylon College of Physicians Research Grant (2014)

Pleustonic colonies of cnidarians (Physalia physalis, Porpita porpita and Velella velella) found along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka

Three species of the free-floating, colonial hydrozoans namely Physalia physalis L., Porpita porpita L. and Velella velella L., found along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka are reported here with their morphological descriptions and respective abundance. The study was conducted from March 2017 to April 2018, implementing monthly coastal surveys at 26 sampling stations along the coastal belt of Sri Lanka. The abundance of stranded colonies of those species was assessed using line transects and the specimens were identified taxonomically. Of the porpitids found in this study, V. velella was reported for the first time in Sri Lankan waters while P. porpita was re-reported trustworthy as its initial record was just a sighting. The siphonophore P. physalis was also re-reported and it always represented the lowest abundance among the stranded colonies of the three species. The highest abundance of all the species was from May to August on the southwest coast of Sri Lanka, and from November to February on the northeast coast. There was a significant size difference in colonies of each species between the two coasts

CFD Study of Particle Flow Patterns in a Rotating Cylinder Applying OpenFOAM and Fluent

A rotating cylinder (RC) is a common type of reactor used in the industry, the most typical example being a cement kiln. The particle flow pattern inside such a unit is necessary for the mass and energy transfer, and this flow pattern depends on the operational Froude number and the degree of filling. The main aim of this study is to compare the simulation results from OpenFOAM and Fluent applying a Eulerian multiphase flow modeling concept to study the behavior of dense particle gas mixtures under different operational conditions. Six different flow patterns are simulated, varying the degree of filling from 10 to 45 % and the Froude number from 0.0001 to 5. OpenFOAM is capable of producing results very close to those generated with Fluent, and both software appears to be suitable for simulating the RC dense particle flow using the Eulerian approach

Assessment of Chemical and Microbiological Quality of Bottled Drinking Water and Evaluation of Accelerated Shelf Life

Bottled drinking water was a concept introduced to Sri Lanka in 1980’s and new brands are often introduced to the market as it has become a highly moving product so that the health ministry stepped in to the regulation of bottled water and it has become mandatory for the manufacturing companies to register the products under the food act No 26. The specification given in SLSI standards regarding bottled drinking water (SLS 894) can be applied to determine the microbial quality of bottled drinking water just after filling. The SLS specification 894 cannot be applied to determine microbial quality of bottles available in market months after manufacturing. Even though it is very important to consider the consumer’s point of view, at the time of consumption, no microbial specification is provided in the standard 894.There is a possibility of chemical and microbial changes occurring within the content of water during its shelf period .One of the main objectives, of the project was to establish a permissible limit for the Total Plate Count (TPC as CFU per ml) at any time of storage. Determination of shelf life by accelerating and incubating samples at an elevated temperature was another objective of the project. Along with the above mentioned objectives a quality evaluation of selected fifteen brands were carried out with relevance to the chemical and microbial parameters. The focused parameters were TPC, fecal Coliforms, Escherichia coli, Algae count, pH, total nitrate, total nitrite, conductivity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Free ammonia. Out of the fifteen brands, randomly selected four brands were evaluated according to the Q10 principle to determine the accelerated shelf life. After the incubation period at 420 C, all four brands showed a decrease in the CFU compared to the initial counts and 84% of analyzed chemical parameters were approximate with the initial values. Algae were detected in one of the brands and the same brand exceeded the COD limit (max 10 mg/l) after the incubation period. The CFU obtained for the fifteen brands ranged from 36 to 3200 and the permissible CFU range was decided as 87.362 to 1184.170. Around 94% of the selected brands were within the permissible chemical limits while one of the brands exceeded the COD limit (10 mg/l). Since most of the chemical parameters were not deviated from the limits stated in SLS 894, it is concluded that microbial parameters are crucial compared to the chemical parameters in the bottled water industry.Keywords: Bottled water, Accelerated shelf life, Permissible limits, Chemical and microbia