Information Technology Project Benefit Realization in Military Enterprises of Sri Lanka Using Integrated Fuzzy Dempster - Shafer Algorithm

There are Information Technology (IT) projects in military organizations of Sri Lanka. However, these projects lack a scientific mechanism to measure and realize project benefits while quantifying qualitative project outcomes. This paper outlines a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) for measuring the extent to which benefits could be realized. The objectives of the study are firstly, to formulate a fuzzy logic to measure the extent to which the project benefits are realized and secondly, to analyze its impact on benefit policy. The study mainly utilized the quantitative methodology of Dempster-Shafer algorithm to aggregate the selected experts’ opinions by filtering similarity of experts. Ninety-five IT project managers representing the Army, Navy and Air Force were selected based on their expertise. The study employed field-based tacit experts to find inputs for each level namely, project, program, portfolio, enterprise and hybrid. The findings of the study posited nine fuzzy rules and five benefit realization levels for organizational projects. Also, the approach pronounced an organizational project policy. The study recommended a strategic benefit approach with policy implications that can be used by managers to monitor the expected project outcomes both on short term and futuristically. The application of the study cannot  be generalized to all projects of the technology-domains thereby posing a limitation. Also the study is curtailed in its application to non-IT projects which singularly yield financial benefits. The study can be employed by policy makers to streamline benefit process emphasizing government IT infrastructure projects and private sector IT projects with a futuristic value. Keywords: Benefit Realization, Benefit Measurement, Fuzzy Inference Systems, Dempster-Shafer Algorithm, Benefit Polic

Research productivity on COVID-19: A Bibliometric approach

The study aimed to explore the perspective of COVID-19 publications across the globe. Further, attempts were also made to find out the most productive country, author, and institute in publishing literature on COVID-19. The data related study was retrieved from SCOPUS database. Various search strategies were used to retrieve publications on COVID-19 published between 1st December 2019 and 22nd June 2020. A total of 19,991 publications on COVID-19 were retrieved from the Scopus database. Further, it was found that Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China has produced 422 publications and received 5624 citations with an average citation of 13.327 per publication. BMJ Clinical Research Ed published 534 (1.61%) articles. Among the most productive authors, Wiwanitkit, Viroj from Hainan Medical University, China stands in the first place with 73 publications followed by Mahase, E. from the British Medical Journal, UK (52 publications) and Iacobucci, Gareth (48 publications). The study provided a relatively objective reference for peer scientists, national regimes, and the global health system. The findings of the study will definitely help the institutions as well as authors to get an opportunity to collaborate with regional, national and international research institutions and scientists

Search in weighted complex networks

We study trade-offs presented by local search algorithms in complex networks which are heterogeneous in edge weights and node degree. We show that search based on a network measure, local betweenness centrality (LBC), utilizes the heterogeneity of both node degrees and edge weights to perform the best in scale-free weighted networks. The search based on LBC is universal and performs well in a large class of complex networks.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables, minor changes, added a referenc

Preliminary Results on Irradiance Measurements from Lyra and Swap

International audienceThe first and preliminary results of the photometry of Large Yield Radiometer (LYRA) and Sun Watcher using Active Pixel system detector and Image Processing (SWAP) onboard PROBA2 are presented in this paper. To study the day-to-day variations of LYRA irradiance, we have compared the LYRA irradiance values (observed Sun as a star) measured in Aluminum filter channel (171 Å-500 Å) with spatially resolved full-disk integrated intensity values measured with SWAP (174 Å) and Ca II K 1 Å index values (ground-based observations from NSO/Sac Peak) for the period from 01 April 2010 to 15 Mar 2011. We found that there is a good correlation between these parameters. This indicates that the spatial resolution of SWAP complements the high temporal resolution of LYRA. Hence SWAP can be considered as an additional radiometric channel. Also the K emission index is the integrated intensity (or flux) over a 1 Å band centered on the K line and is proportional to the total emission from the chromosphere; this comparison clearly explains that the LYRA irradiance variations are due to the various magnetic features, which are contributing significantly. In addition to this we have made an attempt to segregate coronal features from full-disk SWAP images. This will help to understand and determine the actual contribution of the individual coronal feature to LYRA irradiance variations

One Digital Platform to Seek Quality Education for Everyone

The primary goal of this digital educational platform is to deliver high-quality educational possibilities to people looking for a degree or similar graded programs, tuition classes, and postgraduate programs provided by universities internationally and nationally. Furthermore, by advertising on our web platform, educational institutions will be able to improve the popularity of their courses and services.  There will also be the opportunity to donate financial contributions to campaigns or organizations that will help persons in need of educational assistance. In addition, our development team proposed an idea about a component called volunteer support, which allows users to join up as volunteers for specific organizational initiatives that promote educational campaigns. There will also be several account types for system administrators, users searching for services, and organizations promoting educational programs and volunteer opportunities. The account's capabilities differ depending on the type of user account. The primary objectives of this thesis are to provide the concept of a system that simplifies the process of locating and advertising educational needs, opportunities, and services while providing a way to help people in need of a helping hand

Effect of Potassium Levels, Sources and Time of Application on Storage Life of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The present investigation on “Effect of potassium levels, sources and time of application on storage life of onion var. ArkaKalyan” was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka during Kharif season crop of 2015 and 2016.The physiological loss in weight and rotting and sprouting of onion bulbs was minimum in 200 per cent RDK (19.25 and 13.91%, respectively) and maximum was recorded in 100 per cent RDK (23.40 and 18.13%, respectively). The marketable bulbs of onion was recorded highest in 200 per cent RDK (77.51%) and lowest marketable bulbs was recorded in 100 per cent RDK (71.96%) followed by 175 per cent RDK. The physiological loss in weight and rotting and sprouting of onion bulbs was minimum in potassium sources as SOP (21.12 and 15.09%) over MOP (22.60 and 16.50 per cent respectively). The marketable bulbs of onion was highest in potassium sources as SOP (76.01%, respectively) over MOP (74.43%). The increased marketable bulb yield and reduced the physiological loss in weight and rotting and sprouting onion bulb with the application 50 per cent potassium at transplanting and 50 per cent K at 30 DAT over 100 per cent potassium at transplanting

Potassium Levels, Sources and Time of Application on Nutrient Uptake and Nutrient Use Efficiency of Onion (Allium cepa L.)

The present study on potassium levels, sources and time of application on nutrient uptake and nutrient use efficiency of onion var. ArkaKalyan was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka during Kharif season of 2015 and 2016. The uptake of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc recorded significantly in 200 per cent RDK (203.62, 47.33, 236.36 kg ha-1 and 347.19 g ha-1 , respectively) over 100 per cent RDK. Among the potassium sources, SOP recorded higher nitrogen and phosphorus, potassium and zinc uptake (171.02 and 40.29, 197.73 kg ha-1 and 264.02 g ha-1 respectively) over MOP. The higher nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and zinc uptake was recorded significantly in application of 50 per cent potassium at transplanting and 50 per cent at 30 DAT (168.52, 39.74, 195.69 kg ha-1 and 289.76 g ha-1 ) over 100 per cent potassium at transplanting (157.90, 37.03, 187.23 kg ha-1 and 277.73 g ha-1 ). Significantly higher nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiency was recorded in 200 per cent RDK (162.90 and 63.10%, respectively) over 100 per cent RDK. The higher potassium use efficiency on the contrary was recorded in 100 per cent RDK (121.18%) over 125, 150, 175 and 200 per cent RDK. Among the potassium sources, SOP recorded higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium use efficiency of onion plant (136.82, 53.72 and 107.89%, respectively) over MOP. The higher nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium use efficiency was recorded significantly in application of 50 per cent potassium at transplanting and 50 per cent at 30 DAT (134.82, 52.99 and 106.68%) over 100 per cent potassium at transplanting (126.31, 49.37 and 102.0%)

Response of Onion (Allium cepa L.) to Potassium Levels, Sources and Time of Application

The present investigation on “Effect of potassium levels, sources and time of application on growth and growth parameters of onion var. Arka Kalyan” was carried out at the College of Horticulture, Bagalkot, Karnataka during Kharif season of 2015 and 2016. Potassium significantly influenced the growth components like plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, neck thickness and biomass per plant with increasing levels of potassium at 30, 60 and 90 days after transplanting. Application of 200 per cent RDK recorded significantly higher plant height (37.08, 54.00 and 56.69 cm, respectively), number of leaves per plant (5.59, 8.66 and 9.88, respectively), leaf length (33.85, 47.50 and 48.02 cm, respectively), leaf breadth (5.19, 7.44 and 7.84 mm, respectively), leaf area per plant (154.52, 490.92 and 582.72 cm2, respectively), neck thickness (7.60, 13.90 and 15.08 mm, respectively) and biomass per plant (4.60, 8.22 and 14.70 g, respectively) and it proved significantly superior over 100 per cent RDK. Growth parameters like plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf length, leaf breadth, leaf area per plant, neck thickness and biomass per plant varied significantly by potassium supplied as sulphate of potash over muriate of potash. The growth parameters was significantly influenced by the time of application of potassium. At 30 DAT, the application of 100 per cent potassium at transplanting was recorded significantly higher growth parameters compared to 50 per cent potassium at transplanting and 50 per cent K at 30 DAT was applied as basal. At 60 and 90 DAT, application of 50 per cent potassium at transplanting and 50 per cent K at 30 DAT was recorded superior growth over 100 per cent potassium at transplanting