Recruitment Advertising: Changes Within The Last Four Decades In Sri Lanka

Recruitment is one of the most important functions of the Human Resource Management and the success of the function is depended on the attraction of most suitable candidates to the relevant vacancy. To attract applicants, the organizations can be used no of modes, however among those, most popular one is newspaper advertisements. However just publishing advertisement on newspaper does not bring expected results. To get maximum results, the advertisements should be prepared in an attractive way. Under this study, it was evaluated the changes happen with newspaper advertisements within last fourdecades to get understand how that advertisements has create attractively and to understand the trends of the current newspaper advertisements. For that, it has used 200 published advertisements with the period 1970 –2009 as a sample of the study. According to the results usage of graphics, company logo, pictures, have been increased. On the other hand, usage of descriptive language in recruitment advertisements has been increased. Most of recruitment advertisements presented the position in direct, however there is a trend to present in creative ways and with a statement that encourage applications

Distributed Co-Mentoring as a Means to Develop Culturally Inclusive Online Learning Communities

Transformative online pedagogies call for innovative ways of conceptualizing the online environment and the student, teacher, and peer relationships. In this paper, we focus on how distributed co-mentoring can scaffold both social and knowledge building processes to develop culturally inclusive online learning communities. We critique traditional mentoring relationships, which have often sustained a biased class structure exclusive of diverse populations. We conceptualize co-mentoring drawing from the perspectives of two alternative mentoring theories: (1) feminist postmodern values that bring women and minorities into educational networks, and (2) mentoring mosaic where a diverse range of individuals of different ranks, ages, genders, ethnicities, skills, and experience come together in a non-hierarchical community, blurring distinctions between mentor and mentee to support each other in collaboration. Based on these two perspectives, we define co-mentoring as offering developmental assistance at various points in the growth of a collaborative online group, moving away from the traditional two-person relationship where a more experienced person offers assistance and guides a less experienced person to grow and advance. The expert/novice relationship definition of mentoring is problematic not only from a culturally inclusive point of view, but also from the perspective of the online environment where networked relationships can emerge between persons not bound by power structures, or, local or national cultures. We discuss two case studies of distributed co-mentoring: one, a cross-cultural co-mentoring program between the United States and Sri Lanka in the context of an online faculty development program implemented in Sri Lanka, and the second, a crossborder faculty development program conducted in Sri Lanka between participants from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Mauritius with U.S. co-mentors. Data sources included analysis of transcripts, journal entries and interviews with participants and mentors. In the first case, we found through analysis of computer transcripts six types of co-mentoring roles (social, pedagogical, managerial, technical, collaborative, and inspirational), which facilitated the construction of knowledge and transformed perspectives. In the second case, despite the challenges of cross-border communication, participants learned from fellow co-mentors. In cross-cultural settings, we encourage co-mentors to be cognizant of: (1) mentee needs and characteristics; (2) linguistic difficulties; (3) expectation of direct guidance from mentors; and (4) the importance of providing timely feedback during the initial stages of building a mentoring relationship. We conclude that successful co-mentoring partnerships can be established across cultures if there is mutual respect and willingness to learn from each other

A Formative Assessment Design Suitable for Online Learning Environments and its Impact on Students’ Learning

COVID19 outbreak brought about many challenges including the shifting of university assessments to conduct in online mode. This research study tries to explore the impact of newly designed online formative assessments on students’ learning, in a Plant Physiology course. The designing of assessments were carried out focusing on constructive alignment, for which an Open Book Test (OBT) was conducted in three parts: OBT1 –problem based learning assignment, providing feedback using a rubric; OBT2 –multiple choice, multi response, matching and missing word questions with immediate feedback; OBT3 –analysing research results with MCQs and short answer questions with feedback. A mixed approach of convergent parallel design method was followed to collect data through two questionnaires and interviews. Findings indicated students’ engagement in self- determined learning in solving a real-world problem and their enthusiasm in learning with research-based questions in assessments, while self-assessing their performance through feedback. However, geographically varied technological challenges need to be addressed in conducting successful online assessments

E-Commerce System

This paper presents the development of an E-commerce System (ECS) for users. ECS is able to manage the details of users who have registered to the system. Not only that but also this system can manage order details that are user has ordered. In addition, this system provides calculation service payment for items that are in the cart. The users of ECS are the customer and the admin. This system was developed using the MERN stack and MongoDB as the database platform

Youth and Their Search for Decent Employment Attitudes and Aspirations of Arts Undergraduates in Sri Lanka

This study focuses on themes related to the issues regarding employmentprospects of local Arts undergraduates that continue to require the attention of allstakeholders. The primary objective of the research is to explore the basic factors thataffect Arts graduates when seeking employment. Consideration was given to bothexternal factors such as socio-economic dynamics and internal factors such asmotivation and interests of the students.Students of Bachelor of Arts degree programme have different aspirationsregarding their studies and job prospects. This study was conducted to assess; their levelof satisfaction of being Arts undergraduates; job preferences and problems they facewhen getting decent employments.250 students of who entered the Colombo University in 2011 to follow BAdegree programme were selected randomly according to admission register. Data wasgathered using an interviewer administered questionnaire and focus group discussions;223 students belonging to all ethnic groups from different socio-economic backgroundsresponded and four focus group discussions were carried out during a three monthperiod with their consent.Majority of the Arts undergraduates (79%) aspire to join in local as well asgovernment employments. 21% are interested in private sector jobs and intend tomigrate for any job. However, poor proficiency in the English language and lack of softskills limit their academic and career opportunities.Thus, it is important to develop attitudinal changes in them regardingemployments in other sectors while encouraging acquiring the necessary technical, softskills and language proficiency. It would be a significant step to minimize underemploymentand un-employment situation among them.Key words: Undergraduate, Interest, Attitudes, Aspiration, Employmen

DESIGNING INTERFACE FOR INTERACTIVE MULTIMEDIA: LEARNER PERCEPTIONS ON THE DESIGN FEATURES

Interactive Multimedia (IMM) package has a greater potential of supporting individual differences of learners due to its inherent strength of media attributes. This study was carried out to explore the design features of IMM, which was specially designed to support the open and distant learners, studying Microbiology as a part of the B.Sc. Degree program, of the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL), with the purpose of explaining the dynamic abstract concepts in Microbiology. When designing the IMM emphasis was placed on the design features, interface design in particular, in order to help the learners to achieve a meaningful learning experience. The purpose of this research paper is to explore learner perceptions of the design features of the IMM and, in developing a more user friendly, authentic instructional package. As such, quantitative and qualitative research methods were used by means of questionnaires, interviews and observations. Evaluation reveals many supportive and constructive outcomes, and suggests improvements in providing a better support for learners studying science subjects at a distance. In the context of the university using new technologies, especially for delivery, the results of this study would be a great asset

Sequence Variability of P2-Like Prophage Genomes Carrying the Cytolethal Distending Toxin V Operon in Escherichia coli O157

Cytolethal distending toxins (CDT) are potent cytotoxins of several Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, including Escherichia coli, in which five types (CDT-I to CDT-V) have been identified so far. CDT-V is frequently associated with Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC), enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157 strains, and strains not fitting any established pathotypes. In this study, we were the first to sequence and annotate a 31.2-kb-long, noninducible P2-like prophage carrying the cdt-V operon from an stx- and eae-negative E. coli O157:H43 strain of bovine origin. The cdt-V operon is integrated in the place of the tin and old phage immunity genes (termed the TO region) of the prophage, and the prophage itself is integrated into the bacterial chromosome between the housekeeping genes cpxP and fieF. The presence of P2-like genes (n = 20) was investigated in a further five CDT-V-positive bovine E. coli O157 strains of various serotypes, three EHEC O157:NM strains, four strains expressing other variants of CDT, and eight CDT-negative strains. All but one CDT-V-positive atypical O157 strain uniformly carried all the investigated genomic regions of P2-like phages, while the EHEC O157 strains missed three regions and the CDT-V-negative strains carried only a few P2-like sequences. Our results suggest that P2-like phages play a role in the dissemination of cdt-V between E. coli O157 strains and that after integration into the bacterial chromosome, they adapted to the respective hosts and became temperate

Use of image processing to easy e-content reader for physically differently-abled personnel

Differently-abled or disability is distinct as limitation of a person’s ability to carry out the activities of daily living, to the level that he or she may need help in doing so. The differentlyabled personnel, especially people with various amputations face the issue of not being able to use the devices that allow them to access e-content properly. In this paper, here suggest an application that is able to scroll the page of an e-content with the help of human face. The face is identified and tracked in real-time to use their actions for scrolling events. The basic strategy for detection is fast extraction of the face of the image in front of the screen with image processing technology. Between-the-Eyes is selected as a face representative because of its features are common to most people and is easily seen for a varied range of face orientation. After identifying the face, the head movement is used to trigger the scrolling event based on the suggested proposed system.</span

Type VI secretion: a beginner's guide

Type VI secretion is a newly described mechanism for protein transport across the cell envelope of Gram-negative bacteria. Components that have been partially characterised include an IcmF homologue, the ATPase ClpV, a regulatory FHA domain protein and the secreted VgrG and Hcp proteins. Type VI secretion is clearly a key virulence factor for some important pathogenic bacteria and has been implicated in the translocation of a potential effector protein into eukaryotic cells by at least one organism (Vibrio cholerae). However, type VI secretion systems (T6SSs) are widespread in nature and not confined to known pathogens. In accordance with the general rule that the expression of protein secretion systems is tightly regulated, expression of type VI secretion is controlled at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels

Granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor and keratinocyte growth factor control of early stages of differentiation of oral epithelium

Oral epithelial differentiation is known to be directed by underlying fibroblasts, but the responsible factor(s) have not been identified. We aimed here to identify fibroblast-derived factors responsible for oral epithelial differentiation. Primary normal human oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated from healthy volunteers after informed consent (n = 5) and 3D-organotypic (3D-OT) cultures were constructed. Various growth factors were added at a range of 0.1-100 ng/ml. 3D-OTs were harvested after ten days and assessed histologically, by immunohistochemistry and the TUNEL method. Epithelium developed in 3D-OT without fibroblasts showed an undifferentiated phenotype. Addition of granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) induced expression of cytokeratin 13 in suprabasal cell layers. Admixture of GM-CSF and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) induced, in addition, polarization of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor and β1-integrin to basal cell layer and collagen IV deposition. Terminal differentiation with polarization of TUNEL-positive cells to superficial layers occurred only in the presence of fibroblasts in collagen gels either in direct contact or at distance from normal oral keratinocytes. Taken together, these results show that major aspects of oral epithelial differentiation are regulated by the synergic combination of GM-CSF and KGF. However, the terminal stage seems to be controlled by other yet unidentified fibroblast-derived diffusible factor(s).publishedVersio