Well-Being of Occupants of Low-Income Housing Projects in Colombo

The purpose of this study is to assess the well-being in terms of economic, social, and environmental aspects of the displaced community from low-income housing projects in Colombo, Sri Lanka. For this purpose, the primary data was collected by interviewing 25 resettled households who were living in low-income housing projects and observing them. The secondary data was collected via articles, books, newspapers, gazette notifications, etc., to data utilization and further validation of the study findings. Using the thematic analysis method, the study findings were ascertained. The key findings of the study revealed that the relocation of people from informal settlements to new homes could be seen as a testament to the positive and negative effects of the financial, social, and environmental changes that have taken place in their lives. This study is important to identify the basic problems of the new housing families in the city of Colombo and to be able to provide the information needed to make resettlement housing plans and infrastructure to minimize those problems in future housing projects. © 2022 The Authors. Published by Department of Estate Management and Valuation, University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Keywords: Urban poverty, Low- income housing, unauthorized houses, wellbeing, Sri Lank

Parallel asynchronous systems and image processing algorithms

A new hardware approach to implementation of image processing algorithms is described. The approach is based on silicon devices which would permit an independent analog processing channel to be dedicated to evey pixel. A laminar architecture consisting of a stack of planar arrays of the device would form a two-dimensional array processor with a 2-D array of inputs located directly behind a focal plane detector array. A 2-D image data stream would propagate in neuronlike asynchronous pulse coded form through the laminar processor. Such systems would integrate image acquisition and image processing. Acquisition and processing would be performed concurrently as in natural vision systems. The research is aimed at implementation of algorithms, such as the intensity dependent summation algorithm and pyramid processing structures, which are motivated by the operation of natural vision systems. Implementation of natural vision algorithms would benefit from the use of neuronlike information coding and the laminar, 2-D parallel, vision system type architecture. Besides providing a neural network framework for implementation of natural vision algorithms, a 2-D parallel approach could eliminate the serial bottleneck of conventional processing systems. Conversion to serial format would occur only after raw intensity data has been substantially processed. An interesting challenge arises from the fact that the mathematical formulation of natural vision algorithms does not specify the means of implementation, so that hardware implementation poses intriguing questions involving vision science

Parallel asynchronous hardware implementation of image processing algorithms

Research is being carried out on hardware for a new approach to focal plane processing. The hardware involves silicon injection mode devices. These devices provide a natural basis for parallel asynchronous focal plane image preprocessing. The simplicity and novel properties of the devices would permit an independent analog processing channel to be dedicated to every pixel. A laminar architecture built from arrays of the devices would form a two-dimensional (2-D) array processor with a 2-D array of inputs located directly behind a focal plane detector array. A 2-D image data stream would propagate in neuron-like asynchronous pulse-coded form through the laminar processor. No multiplexing, digitization, or serial processing would occur in the preprocessing state. High performance is expected, based on pulse coding of input currents down to one picoampere with noise referred to input of about 10 femtoamperes. Linear pulse coding has been observed for input currents ranging up to seven orders of magnitude. Low power requirements suggest utility in space and in conjunction with very large arrays. Very low dark current and multispectral capability are possible because of hardware compatibility with the cryogenic environment of high performance detector arrays. The aforementioned hardware development effort is aimed at systems which would integrate image acquisition and image processing

Differential charge radii: self-consistency and proton-neutron interaction effects

The analysis of self-consistency and proton-neutron interaction effects in the buildup of differential charge radii has been carried out in covariant density functional theoretical calculations without pairing interaction. Two configurations of the $^{218}$Pb nucleus, generated by the occupation of the neutron $1i_{11/2}$ and $2g_{9/2}$ subshells, are compared with the ground state configuration in $^{208}$Pb. The interaction of added neutron(s) and the protons forming the $Z=82$ proton core is responsible for a major contribution to the buildup of differential charge radii. It depends on the overlaps of proton and neutron wave functions and leads to a redistribution of single-particle density of occupied proton states which in turn modifies the charge radii. Self-consistency effects affecting the shape of proton potential, total proton densities and the energies of the single-particle proton states provide only secondary contribution to differential charge radii. The buildup of differential charge radii is a combination of single-particle and collective phenomena. The former is due to proton-neutron interaction, the impact of which is state dependent, and the latter reflects the fact that all occupied proton single-particle states contribute to this process. The neglect of either one of these aspects of the process by ignoring proton-neutron interaction and self-consistency effects as it is done in macroscopic+microscopic approach or by introducing the core as in spherical shell model introduces uncontrollable errors and restricts the applicability of such approaches to the description of differential charge radii.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Physical Review

Role of Charismatic Leadership and Technology Self-Efficacy in HRIS Use Behavior: A Conceptual Study

The current study claims that the Human Resource Information System (HRIS) Use Behavior, plays a salient role in utilizing the information technology as intended. Thus, organizations investing in information technology are in dire requirement of developing and implementing the effective interventions. The purpose of this is to optimize information technology adoption and its maximum usage among the HRIS users. The existing knowledge base in HRIS Use Behavior hardly addresses the relationship of Charismatic Leadership and Technology Self-Efficacy in the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT). The current study has developed an ‘integrative conceptual model’ contributing a theoretical extension of the UTAUT model, which fills he identified theoretical gaps, grounded on UTAUT, Charismatic Leadership theory, and the Social Cognitive Theory. The salient feature of this study is that it conceptualizes and introduces two constructs: 1) Technology Self-Efficacy and 2) Charismatic Leadership, in extending a validated information system Use Behavior or ‘explanatory model’ as a theoretical contribution. This concept paper argues that the Charismatic Leadership and Technology Self-Efficacy have a positive relationship among the UTAUT model's HRIS Use Behavior-related variables. However, it can be integrated towards arriving at a ‘coherent conceptual model’ to be researched and validated. This particular study has developed a ‘coherent conceptual framework’ in studying the phenomenon of HRIS Use Behavior. Furthermore, it studies the role of Charismatic Leadership and Technology Self-Efficacy in affecting the psychological aspect of the end users of a Human Resource Information System (HRIS

Challenges in Applying the DCF Method for Investment Property Valuation in Sri Lanka: Insights from a Delphi Study

This study aimed to identify the challenges of implementing the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) valuation method for investment properties in Sri Lanka. Through a mixed methodological approach involving the Delphi technique and structured interviews, insights were gathered from industry valuation experts via two Delphi rounds. The study's key findings were derived from the consensus reached among these experts, focusing on data- and valuer-bound factors. One of the primary challenges identified in the Sri Lankan context is the lack of training, which significantly hinders the knowledge and understanding required for implementing the DCF method effectively. Other significant hurdles included obtaining relevant data and accurately determining the discount rate. Imperfections in available data, the absence of a centralized digital data system, and challenges associated with increasing cash flows and market uncertainties also hindered the adoption of the DCF method in Sri Lanka. This study contributes to the existing DCF literature and provides valuable insights for practitioners and future researchers in the field of property valuation in Sri Lanka

Theory of transient spectroscopy of multiple quantum well structures

A theory of the transient spectroscopy of quantum well (QW) structures under a large applied bias is presented. An analytical model of the initial part of the transient current is proposed. The time constant of the transient current depends not only on the emission rate from the QWs, as is usually assumed, but also on the subsequent carrier transport across QWs. Numerical simulation was used to confirm the validity of the proposed model, and to study the transient current on a larger time scale. It is shown that the transient current is influenced by the nonuniform distribution of the electric field and related effects, which results in a step-like behavior of the current. A procedure of extraction of the QW emission time from the transient spectroscopy experiments is suggested.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to be published in J. Appl. Phy

TIME ON THE MARKET OF RESIDENTIAL CONDOMINIUM UNITS WITH PRE-SALE ARRANGEMENT IN COLOMBO DISTRICT

The purpose of this paper is to study the time on market (TOM) for residential condominium units under pre sales arrangements and what key factors drive that TOM. The contextual understanding of previous studies on TOM for residential properties confined for properties sold either in the secondary market or properties where construction is completed. This study focuses on the relationships among TOM, listed price, and basic property characteristics of residential condominium units sold under the provisional condominium plan in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Following non-probability sampling technique, this study examines TOM of 189 pre-sale residential condominium units in Colombo district which came into market between 2016 January to 2019 January. Developers were approached to collect required data such as transaction price, transaction date, final listed date listed price, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, floor area, floor level, construction completion, discounting rates likewise. Data analysis followed descriptive statistics, Pearson Correlation, and multiple regression model. The analysis highlighted that from January-2016 to January-2019, TOM of provisional residential condominiums of Colombo varied from 12.76 to 5.51 months. The results further highlighted that the TOM of a pre-sale provisional residential condominium unit is a function of floor area, number of bathrooms, level of the unit, construction completion & discount rate. The study highlights that during the period considered, the floor area units of 744sqft at the initial stage of construction with a discount rate between 10% to 20% from the listed price can predicted to have the lowest TOM.. Keywords: Time on the Market; Pre-sale; Residential Condominium Units; Listed Price; TransactionPrice