Search for Neutrino Oscillations in the Appearance Channel Anti Muon Neutrion Going to Anti Electron Neutrino and Measurements of Neutrino-Carbon Cross Sections.

This document describes the results of a neutrino oscillation experiment in the channel \bar\nu\sb{\mu} \to \ \bar\nu\sb{\rm e} and measurements of neutrino-carbon cross sections. This is an accelerator based experiment performed using \nu\sb{\rm e}, \ \bar\nu\sb{\mu} and \nu\sb{\mu} neutrinos from the LAMPF A-6 beam stop. The \bar\nu\sb{\mu} were used to look for neutrino oscillations and the \mu\sb{\rm e} were used to measure the neutrino-carbon cross sections. The main features of the detector are its large mass of liquid scintillator (180 tons of mineral oil with 0.03 g/l b-PBD added), recording of history before and after a prompt event, good particle identification and an active cosmic-ray anticoincidence shield. The detector is located 29.8 m from the neutrino source. The 1220 photomultiplier tubes on the inside of the tank provide 25% photocathode coverage with uniform spacing. If \bar\nu\sb{\mu} oscillates into \bar\nu\sb{\rm e}, the positron from the reaction \bar\nu\sb{\rm e}p $\to$ e\sp+n followed by a 2.2 MeV gamma ray is the event signature for oscillations. There is no significant \bar\nu\sb{\rm e} production at the beam stop. An analysis of data taken in 1994 yields 7 events consistent with neutrino oscillations with an estimated background of 1.1 events. If we interpret these events as arising from neutrino oscillations the 90% confidence level upper limit of the oscillation probability is 10.3 $\times$ 10\sp{-3} and the 90% confidence level lower limit is 3.4 $\times$ 10\sp{-3}. In a separate analysis, 283 $\pm$ 27 \sp{12}C(\nu\sb{\rm e},e\sp-)\sp{12}N\sb{\rm g.s.} events with subsequent \sp{12}N(\beta\sp+)\sp{12}C were observed. The measured total cross section is (9.0 $\pm$ 0.8(stat.) $\pm$ 0.8(syst.)) $\times$ 10\sp{-42} cm\sp2. Also 138 $\pm$ 43 events were observed for the reaction \nu\sbsp{\rm e}{12}C \to \ \sp{12} N*e\sp- and the resulting cross section is (5.0 $\pm$ 1.6(stat.) $\pm$ 0.5(syst.)) $\times$ 10\sp{-42} cm\sp2. The ratio of the exclusive events to inclusive events is 0.67 $\pm$ 0.08(stat.) $\pm$ 0.06(syst.). These cross sections are in good agreement with theoretical calculations and other experimental measurements

Effect of environmental stresses on chemical components related to taste, growth and yield of chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) （環境ストレスがトウガラシ(Capsicum spp.)の呈味成分含量、成長および収量に及ぼす影響）

信州大学(Shinshu university)博士（農学）この博士論文は、次の学術雑誌論文を一部に使用しています。 / HORTICULTURE JOURNAL 90(1):58-67 (2021); doi:10.2503/hortj.UTD-217. © 2021 The Japanese Society for Horticultural Science (JSHS).ThesisR. M. SANGEETH M. B. RATHNAYAKA. Effect of environmental stresses on chemical components related to taste, growth and yield of chili pepper (Capsicum spp.) （環境ストレスがトウガラシ(Capsicum spp.)の呈味成分含量、成長および収量に及ぼす影響）. 信州大学, 2021, 博士論文. 博士（農学）, 甲第92号, 令和03年03月20日授与.doctoral thesi

Editorial: Evaluation as the “Eternal” Challenge: Opportunities and Innovations in Demonstrating Value in Ever-Changing Peer Learning Environments

Welcome to Volume 14 of the Journal of Peer Learning

Torque magnetometry studies of new low temperature metamagnetic states in ErNi_{2}B_{2}C

The metamagnetic transitions in single-crystal ErNi$_2$B$_2$C have been studied at 1.9 K with a Quantum Design torque magnetometer. The critical fields of the transitions depend crucially on the angle between applied field and the easy axis [100]. Torque measurements have been made while changing angular direction of the magnetic field (parallel to basal tetragonal $ab$-planes) in a wide angular range (more than two quadrants). Sequences of metamagnetic transitions with increasing field are found to be different for the magnetic field along (or close enough to) the easy [100] axis from that near the hard [110] axis. The study have revealed new metamagnetic states in ErNi$_{2}$B$_2$C which were not apparent in previous longitudinal-magnetization and neutron studies.Comment: 3 pages (4 figs. incl.) reported at 52th Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Conference, Tampa, Florida, USA, November 200

Transport, thermal and magnetic properties of RuSr_2(Gd_{1.5}Ce_{0.5})Cu_2O_{10-\delta}, a magnetic superconductor

Resistivity, thermoelectric power, heat capacity and magnetization for samples of RuSr_2(Gd_{1.5}Ce_{0.5})Cu_{2}O_{10-\delta} were investigated in the temperature range 1.8-300 K with a magnetic field up to 8 T. The resistive transitions to the superconducting state are found to be determined by the inhomogeneous (granular) structure, characterized by the intragranular, T_{c0}, and intergranular, T_{cg}, transition temperatures. Heat capacity, C(T), shows a jump at the superconducting transition temperature T_{c0}\approx 37.5 K. A Schottky-like anomaly is found in C(T) below 20 K. This low temperature anomaly can be attributed to splitting of the ground term $^{8}S_{7/2}$ of paramagnetic Gd^{3+} ions by internal and external magnetic fields.Comment: 3 pages (4 figs. incl.), reported at 50th Magnetism and Magnetic Materials Conference, San Jose, CA, USA, 200

Anammox Process for Removal of Ammonia from Landfill Leachate

Landfilling is a common practice used to dispose municipal solid waste due to economic considerations in developing countries as Sri Lanka. Among the different ways of landfilling, open pit dumping can be identified as the worst case which creates severe impacts on environment. Major impact which was reported over the years is the contamination of ground and surface water. This highly contaminated waste water which comes through landfills, are called landfill leachate. Since, leachate is directly unveiled to the environment, proper treatment should be carried out prior to dispose. Composition of leachate varies with time. Testing of this research based on Karadiyana Dump site, Sri Lanka and it is recorded that contamination of water in terms of ammonia, nitrite and phosphorous as 700-900 mg/L, 60-126 mg/L and 33-66 mg/L respectively. Also, in Karadiyana high LPI value of 28.88 was indicated. Conventional as well as innovative treatment methods are used to treat leachate. In recent past, many innovative techniques were discovered by scientists to treat leachate. Anammox process is one of the major findings to treat high nitrogen loaded wastewater. Conventional nitrification requires high aeration and dentrification requires high carbon sources. Hence, conventional techniques incurred higher cost. Reduction of oxygen consumption by 60% and no additional carbon source requirement can be identified as dominant advantages over conventional nitrification/denitrification process comparing with anammox process. Anammox bacteria were enriched by applying synthetic wastewater under anaerobic condition in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). After successful enrichment of anammox bacteria, reactor was set to 32+0.5o C and pH 7.5 with HRT of 4 days for anammox process. After a successful anammox process that partially treated wastewater was set to flow through bio char barricades and thereafter through a constructed wetland. 99% ammonia removal as well as 98% of nitrite removal was identified during 25 days of testing period. Further, 82% of prosperous removal also was recorded. Addition to those, 65% of COD removal was obtained. Additional development can be done to anammox process since nitrite is an intermediate component for both nitrifiction and denitrification. This partial nitritation (PN) prior to anammox treatment can be performed in a Single reactor for High activity Ammonia Removal Over Nitrite (SHARON). Main objective of PN is to achieve stoichiometric ratio between ammonia nitrogen to nitrite nitrogen for better anammox process. According to the anammox reaction this ratio should be 1:1.32 between ammonium nitrogen to nitrite nitrogen under aerobic condition and ammonium oxidizing bacteria (AOB) have to be prepared prior to the process. Sludge taken from an aeration tank can be used to enrich AOB. And this combined process is called PN-Anammox.Keywords: Anammox, Leachate treatment, Partial nitratio

Psychological Factors Influencing Credit Card Usage of Employees in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

Credit card is one of the trending cashless transaction methods used worldwide with the advancement of technology. Records in Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) show the demand and the number of credit cards issued are increasing day by day due to different reasons. Researchers have revealed that different demographic, socio-economic and credit card attributes were reasons for use of credit cards among different types of credit card holders. But the influence of psychological factors is also a subject of considerable research. Therefore, the objective of this research is to identify the influential psychological factors on credit card usage of employees in the Colombo district. With the aid of different sampling techniques where necessary, 385 respondents were selected for the sample. Required data were collected through a structured questionnaire and psychological variables were measured by ten-point Likert Scale Statements. Multiple linear regression analysis was carried out with the aid of Minitab 20. Results of the study revealed that the perceived financial cost, user pattern, social status and attitudes are highly influential psychological factors while convenience and financial optimism have not significantly influenced the credit card usage of employees in the Colombo district. Future research is suggested to identify the influence of similar factors for other districts and commercial banks separately, and apply advanced analysis to identify the latent factors that affect credit card usage of employees in the Colombo district. DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v07i02.0

Impact of macroeconomic variables on stock market returns: a case study of Colombo Stock Exchange, Sri Lanka

Unexpected circumstances with respect to the social and economic conditions, the stock market indices have been moving up and down with high volatility. This study examines the equilibrium relationships between the stock market indices and macro-economic factors in Sri Lankan during the period from January 2009 to December 2016 to capture the linear inter-dependencies, by using Vector Autoregressive Regression and Vector Error Correlation Model. Estimated co-integration rank test and Max-eigenvalue test suggested that there are two co-integration equations exist at the 0.05 level of significance. Furthermore, findings revealed that macroeconomic variables have direct effect on high volatility in Stock Market fluctuations. Moreover, the results concluded that Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is highly sensitive to the macroeconomic variables such as real gross domestic product and broad money supply

A Criminological Analysis on Burglary Related Environmental Factors in Sri Lanka

With the birth and growth of criminology related sub discipline, ‘environmental criminology’ or in other words, crime designated ecological perspective has gained a wide acceptance among the criminology academia. As a consequent, the immediate surrounding of an individual has been identified as a criminogenic factor. Criminology has been specifically focusing on the characteristics of offenders as well as offences and has been somewhat disregarding the criminogenic spatial factors of crime. Focusing and identifying the designated burglary related ecological factors have been the prime intention of this criminological research study. Thus, a purposive sample of 57 crime scenes under burglary has been observed during a period of two years (2017-2019) within the Western Province of Sri Lanka. Data were retrieved by using qualitative methodology. The research revealed three types of environmental factors linked with the burglary crime scenes namely, natural, built, and social. The built and social eco factors have been main criminogenic features in urban and semi-urban spaces. Specifically, weather, land usage and location could be identified as burglary related environmental factors. Apart from natural environmental factors, architectural and landscape features were recognized as associated-built environmental factors with housebreak. As this is a pioneering research study connected to the environmental aspect of crimes, the study has filled the existing research gap from the Sri Lankan perspective. Measures in controlling and preventing crime can be achieved through the management of environmental elements and using environmental designing with the advanced technology.DOI: http://doi.org/10.31357/fhss/vjhss.v06i01.0

Bradycardia as a Marker of Chronic Cocaine Use: A Novel Cardiovascular Finding

Few studies have examined the effects of chronic cocaine use on the resting surface electrocardiogram (ECG) between exposures to cocaine