SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Sciences and Humanities [SICASH] 2023

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://rda.sliit.lk/handle/123456789/3589

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 86

Open Access
An Analysis of the Representation of Epilepsy in Pramod Rathnayake’s Short Film Natta (2019)
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Dissanayake, A.K
This study explores the representation of epilepsy in the Sri Lankan short film Natta (2019) by Pramod Rathnayake. Epilepsy is a neurological disease that may lead to unconsciousness. Epilepsy is also a disability. A disability is distinguished from an illness in that the former is understood as created due to socio-cultural factors that could lead to marginalization of individuals with certain medical conditions. Although the condition of epilepsy has been understood and analyzed from a medical perspective, the human experience of epilepsy has not received much attention, especially in Sri Lanka. In this context, the short film Natta fulfills the role of portraying the dayto- day experiences of an individual with epilepsy named Samantha, from the first-person point of view. The film visually represents some symptoms of epilepsy and sheds light on how superstitious beliefs and misinformation about this condition hinder Samantha from successfully medically controlling his epilepsy. The impact of epilepsy on an individual’s employment opportunities and ability to drive a vehicle too are highlighted in the short film. While these are the strengths of the short film, Natta equates the epilepsy condition in a person to something inherently wrong or lacking in a person. Also, the film ignores the social stigmatization of epilepsy patients and indirectly blames people with epilepsy for marginalizing themselves. Finally, through the portrayal of the character of Sugandika, Samantha’s wife, the short film fails to acknowledge the role that family members or informal caregivers play in the process of looking after patients with epilepsy. Therefore, based on this content analysis of Pramod Rathnayake’s short film, it could be concluded that similar short films would be helpful in giving voice to the daily, personal experiences of people with epilepsy. However, such representations should not avoid blaming patients with epilepsy for their condition and social isolation but should be understanding and inclusive of the social pressure and stigmatization encountered by people with epilepsy.
Open Access
An Analytical Study of the Subject of Education Practice in National Colleges of Education
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Welpahala, W. A. S. D.; Ekanayake, P
National Colleges of Education, which contribute greatly to the quality development of Sri Lankan education, are engaged in the role of training teachers and provide necessary human resources for the school system. Currently, 19 National Colleges of Education have been established across the island and are the main institutions involved in pre-service teacher training. The learning teaching process of the teacher directly affects the development of the students in the school system. Therefore, teacher preparation programs greatly affect students’ learning, and as a result the quality and performance of educational practice programs implemented in National Colleges of education should be investigated. Thus, this research has been done to study how education practice subject in the National Colleges of Education contributes to the development of teaching professional skills. The main problem of this research is the analytical study of the content of the education practice subject in the National Colleges of Education and how it works. The study also aims to examine the contribution of education practice subject to the development of the professional skills of the National Colleges of Education trainees. In relation to the main research problem, the nature of the education practice subject implemented in the National Colleges of Education and its implementation status in the institutional training as well as the student perception of the subject have been investigated. The convergent parallel design has been used for this research under mixed research methodology. The teacher trainees of five national colleges of education were selected under the simple random sampling method, the lecturers were selected under the purposive sampling method and a sample size of three hundred and thirty-five has been used for this research. In this research, strategies for modernizing the educational practice subject have been discussed. This research which examines the subject of educational practice in the National Colleges of Education will be useful for the professional development of the student teachers studying in the colleges and for future research.
Open Access
Antibacterial Activities of Lichen-associated Fungi in Mangrove Ecosystems in Sri Lanka as Potent Candidates for Novel Antibiotic Agents
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Happitiya, H.A.D.N.N; Nanayakkara, C. M.; Ariyawansa, K. G. S. U.; Ediriweera, S. S.; Wijayawardene, N. N.; Jayasinghe, R. P. P. K.; Dai, Don-Qin; Karunarathna, C.
Antimicrobial resistance is a global threat to humans, prompting an increasing interest in exploring and developing novel antimicrobial substances derived from diverse sources. Together with the emergence of new diseases the search for novel drug leads has intensified. Less explored microbial habitats have become prime targets in mining for novel antimicrobial molecules. Secondary metabolites synthesized by lichen-associated fungi are good potential targets in this regard. Hence, this study was carried out to explore the antibacterial potential of lichenassociated fungi in mangrove ecosystems by taking National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) Regional Research Centre, Kalpitiya, Puttalam District, Sri Lanka as the study site. Lichen-associated fungi were isolated from collected lichens by plating out surface sterilized lichen thalli pieces. Antibacterial activities of the isolates were tested using two gram-positive bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus and two gram-negative bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. In this study, 72 putative fungal isolates were primarily screened for their antibacterial activity using agar plug diffusion assay and ethyl acetate crude fungal extracts of nine fungal isolates with marked activity were secondarily screened using the well diffusion assay in triplicate. Isolate LIF 0803 identified as Trichosporon faecale showed the most outstanding antibacterial activities as 2.58 ± 0.29, 3.43 ± 0.05, 4.2 ± 0, 4.5 ± 0.14 cm of zone diameter at 100 mg/mL and 1.95 ± 0.59, 3.08 ± 0.13, 3.7 ± 0.12, 4.3 ± 0.19 cm of zone diameter at 50 mg/mL against P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. cereus, and E. coli. All nine fungal isolates showed promising antimicrobial activity against both gram positive and negative bacteria. Therefore, this study showed that lichen-associated fungi in mangrove ecosystems have potent antibacterial activities. Hence, bioassay guided fractionation of active compounds from lichen-associated fungi and structure elucidation are warranted.
Open Access
Antibacterial Activity of Cu Decorated TiO2 Nanorods
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Nilaweera, G; Thambiliyagodage, C; Jayanetti, M; Liyanaarachchi, H
Global public health is seriously threatened by the spread of infectious illnesses in general, particularly by the appearance of bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics. New antibacterial drugs are likely a result of recent developments in the field of nanobiotechnologies, particularly the ability to make metal oxide nanomaterials with specific morphologies. Using antibiotics for a long time period will show antibiotic resistance in host cells, which means the drug does not kill the pathogen anymore. As a solution to this problem, nanoparticles can be used. Researchers may find nanoparticles with high antibacterial activity which can kill the pathogen. This research shows the antibacterial activity of Cu decorated TiO2 nanoparticles against Klebsiella pneumoniae. In here the nanoparticles were synthesized in three weight ratios with TiO2 and CuO using hydrothermal method. Pure CuO and TiO2 were synthesized as controls. Then antibacterial activity was checked by the well diffusion method. After incubation the inhibition zones were measured, and the results were recorded. The antibacterial effect can be determined with the size of the inhibition zone. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using XRD to analyze physical properties such as phase composition, crystal structure. The value for inhibition zone of the best performing sample which the sample concentration is 40mg/ml is 13.17±1.53 mm which contains TiO2 : CuO (1:2) weight ratio. Therefore it can be determined that the best performing sample which has the highest antibacterial activity against Klebsiella pneumoniae is G3 which contains TiO2 : CuO (1:2) weight ratio.
Open Access
Antibacterial Activity of Zn Decorated TiO2 Nanocomposites
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Kumarasinghe, N.M.A,; Thambiliyagodage, C; Jayanetti, M; Liyanaarachchi, H
Bacterial infections have a significant public health impact. Infections are caused by bacteria in animals, plants as well as humans. Pathogenic bacteria can produce toxins, which are chemical poisons that interfere with cell function such as digestion of normal human enzymes, evasion of infection-fighting white blood cells, and immune clearance. Antibiotic prophylaxis is used to prevent bacterial infection. Antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious concerns in world health. Antibacterial nanoparticles are one possible answer to antimicrobial resistance. These nanomaterials not only kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria through various modes of action but, they can also be employed in conjunction with existing clinically relevant antibiotics to help overcome antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. In this study, anodized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods were treated hydrothermally with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles to give titanium (Ti) antibacterial properties. The antibacterial activity of synthesized samples was investigated by Agar Well Diffusion method at 40 mg/ml concentration, against gram negative Klebsiella pneumoniae. To determine the antibacterial activity, the diameter of the zone of inhibition was measured, and the resulting data were statistically analyzed. Zn/TiO2 nano particles were characterized by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) Analysis.
Open Access
Approach or Avoid? A Quantitative Study on the Dualistic Nature of Social Media Envy in Undergraduates in a Non-state University in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Perera, R; Abeysinghe, N; Galappaththi, K
Envy is a complex emotion studied recently, especially with the impact of social media. This study explored the dualistic nature of social media envy in Sri Lankan undergraduates from a nonstate university. Using a quantitative design, data from 155 participants were collected via Google Forms and analysed with Spearman’s Rank test. Results indicated statistically significant positive moderate relationships between social media usage and both benign envy and malicious envy. However, social media only accounted for 20% of benign envy and 8.8% of malicious envy, suggesting it’s only one of many contributors. Furthermore, the association between social media usage and benign envy was stronger than that with malicious envy, implying social media envy may be less severe than perceived in Sri Lanka. The study acknowledges limitations, such as sample size and focus on one university. Future research should address these limitations and explore the dualistic nature of social media envy in different populations and contexts. Overall, the study emphasises the need to understand the complexity of envy and how social media can amplify or alleviate it. Findings have implications for social media usage, regulation, and interventions promoting emotional well-being.
Open Access
A Case Report: Nursing Interventions of a Patient with Type B Aortic Dissection
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Subasinghe, S. M. N; Ranasinghe, W. D. D. M.; Dasanayake, C. D. K.
Aortic dissection is a rare medical condition in which a tear of the aortic wall occurs. Type B aortic dissection occurs in the descending aorta and is a challenging medical emergency in the human circulatory system and may have serious complications such as renal failure, arterial dilatation or rupture, visceral branch hypo perfusion, and compromise of aneurism exclusion. Elderly patients greater than the age of 70 years with type B aortic dissection have the most striking mortality rate. A seventy-year-old woman with a history of acute aortic aneurysm began her illness with sudden onset generalized abdominal pain and back pain, vomiting, and loose stool and was admitted to the hospital. After careful analysis of the results of diagnostic tests, the patient was diagnosed with type B aortic dissection with kidney failure. Criteria to manage this patient with type B aortic dissection included reducing blood pressure on the aortic walls, relieving pain, and helping prevent tears from worsening. Nursing care provided for this patient included psychological support, close observation of vital signs and other discomforts to identify the signs of complications, administration of IV morphine infusion for relieving pain with the close observation, administration of medicine, and maintaining intake output of the patient to reduce blood pressure and prevent worsening of vascular and renal complications. All recommended management was continued but suddenly, the patient became unconscious and had a cardiac arrest. Even though maximal resuscitation efforts were taken, the patient died.
Open Access
Common Risk Factors for Postpartum Depression among Mothers after Childbirth in Asian Countries: A Systematic Review
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Ranasinghe, N. S.; Wijedasa, H. S.; De Silva, B. S. S.
Depression is the most common mental illness which leads to various health consequences among mothers following the delivery of their babies. Post-partum depression leads to self-harm, suicidal ideation, or harming the newborn, hurting family life. Early detection and management of depression during the antenatal period would prevent both maternal and neonatal complications. Hence, knowing the risk factors may help in planning care for individuals reducing the burden on the health care system. There is a lack of exact evidence of the common risk factors for developing depression after childbirth in Asian mothers. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify the common risk factors for post-partum depression among mothers after childbirth in Asian countries. Relevant literature from 2017 to 2023 was searched in CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, Science Direct, and Cochrane databases. Seven highly relevant articles were selected using the PRISMA flow chart. Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) and its tools were used to carry out the critical analysis of each selected article. Following the in-depth analysis, three key themes were derived: an unfriendly home builds an unhappy mother, expectation versus reality leads to depression, and poor financial status leads to an unsafe post-partum period. The study highlighted that mothers in Asian countries are affected by a wide variety of complex post-partum depression risk factors. Improving knowledge, early detection of emotional needs, counseling, effective use of contraceptives, and delivery of high-quality care during the ante-natal period are necessary for reducing post-partum depression among antenatal mothers.
Open Access
Construction and Validation of Academic Stress Scale for 18-35-year-old Sri Lankan University Students
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Ponnamperuma, L; Hettiarachchi, A; Jayakodi, P; Abeysinghe, N
This article describes the development and initial validation of a new instrument to measure the academic stress of university students in Sri Lanka. A 16-item scale was developed by reviewing the literature and conducting interviews. Surveys were conducted with 726 Sri Lankan undergraduate students, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) were used to analyse the data. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Oblimin rotation produced a two-component model of the Academic Stress Scale: (1) Stress due to lack of sufficient knowledge and (2) stress due to interpersonal relationships, which together explains 59% of the total item variance. The ASS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring academic stress. A CFA suggested that the proposed factor model fits moderately well. Therefore, for researchers who have a particular interest in academic stress among Sri Lankan students, the ASS promises to be a helpful tool.
Open Access
Coping amid Crisis: A Study of Field Midwives’ Resilience Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Pathirana, J. M. P; Edirisinghe, N. P.; Amarasekara, T.D.
The COVID-19 outbreak has significantly impacted people’s physical and mental health. The use of coping strategies plays a major role in combating psychological stressors. The aim of the study was to describe the use of coping strategies among field midwives (FMs). A descriptive crosssectional study was conducted among FMs in selected Medical Officer of Health (MOH) areas in the Matara district. Participants included FMs with at least six months of experience in the field, and those on maternity leave were excluded. Data were collected using a validated Brief COPE questionnaire and a pre-tested sociodemographic questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. A total of 145 study participants had a mean age of 41.4±12.0. The majority of participants (64.8%) employed an avoidant coping style, while 44.8% utilized a problem-focused coping style, and 51% employed an emotion-focused coping style to maintain positivity in the face of challenges. The highest scores were reported on active coping, positive reframing, acceptance, and informational support, while the lowest scores were on substance use and humor. In conclusion, the majority of FMs used problem-focused approaches as a coping strategy during the COVID-19 outbreak. Health policymakers might use this data to have a basic understanding of FMs’ coping mechanisms.
Open Access
Data Smoothing and Other Methods for Generating Forecasts for COVID-19 Cases in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Siriwardena, G; Dharmaratne, G; Amaratunga, D
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted global society, including Sri Lanka, necessitating the need for reliable forecasting methods. This study compares ten distinct models to predict the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Sri Lanka, aiming to assess the performance of statistical models using limited and volatile realworld data characterized by trends, random peaks, and autocorrelations. In addition to the classical ARIMA model, various smoothing and filtering techniques were explored to capture the unique characteristics of the data. The model consistencies in multiple-day predictions were demonstrated, and robust evaluation criteria, along with non-robust measures, were utilized to enhance the effectiveness of the evaluation process. The results highlight the effectiveness of traditional smoothing strategies such as Simple Exponential Smoothing, Holt’s Exponential Smoothing, and the Smoothing Splines technique coupled with the ARIMA model. Notably, applying the ARIMA model directly to the original data without smoothing or filtering approaches yielded inadequate forecasts, underscoring its limitations in volatile data settings.
Open Access
Determining Differentially Expressed Genes in Dengue Patients during Disease Progression
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Coorey, H.; Jayatillake, R.; Jayathilaka, N.; Ambanpola, N.
Gene expression studies on gene transcription to synthesize functional gene products have been used extensively to understand the biological differences between different disease conditions. Thus, this study determines differentially expressed genes in dengue infection during disease progression following the three phases: Febrile, Defervescence and Convalescent. Integrative data analysis of two publicly available longitudinal datasets in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database has been employed to accomplish the prime objective of exploring temporal gene expression patterns. The Friedman test was given more emphasis due to the non-normality distributions of data. Since previous studies on gene expression have not primarily relied on normality assumption, repeated measures analysis of variance and linear mixed models were implemented to examine the potential of detecting differentially expressed genes despite non-normality. The Friedman test indicated that gene expression levels differentiate with different phases in dengue disease over time, resulting in a high number of significant differentially expressed genes compared to the other two techniques. The pathway analysis approach consists of significant differentially expressed genes derived from the Friedman test. The results identified 27 and 26 upregulated pathways for the “Febrile and Convalescent” and “Defervescence and Convalescent” groups respectively. Moreover, genes available in pathways were not identified by the two parametric tests for non-normal data implying that the parametric approaches resulted in the least significance for data with non-normal distributions.
Open Access
Development of a Herbal Wine Using Cassia auriculata and Woodfordia fruticosa
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Sathsarani, A.M. A. D.; Mathangadeera, R.W.; Ranaweera, K.K.D.S.
Wine is a popular alcoholic beverage that has been adored by people around the world for thousands of years. Herbal wine is a type of wine that is infused with medicinal herbs which enhances its flavor and adds to its health benefits. Herbal wine provides numerous health benefits, including a decrease in ovarian cancer, improved bone and skeleton strength, destruction of tumor cells, prevention of heart attacks by maintaining slender coronary arteries, and improved lung function. Herbs have potent anti-bacterial, antimutagenic, and anti-microbial capabilities. This research aims to produce a wine based on herbal ingredients that are important to the human body. The main raw materials used in this study, which consisted of three rounds and a total of thirteen samples, were Cassia auriculata and Woodfordia fruticosa as herbals. The organoleptic properties were evaluated using sensory tests, and the findings were observed while the alcohol content was checked using an ebulliometer. The third sample of the third round passed both tests. This sample was the most promising in terms of the alcohol percentage, which contained a 4%-5% alcohol level, and a sensory test, which was used to check the highest organoleptic characteristics. The major goal of this study was to produce herbal wine utilizing Cassia auriculata and Woodfordia fruticosa. Determining the best combination of Cassia auriculata and Woodfordia fruticosa for wine formulation, as well as the impact of sugar concentration on the synthesis of alcohol activity, were the main objectives.
Open Access
Development of SARIMA Model to Predict Quarterly Apparel and Textile Export Revenue in Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Piyasiri, K. G. V.; Kasthuriarachchi, U. P; Nirmani, K. G. R; Tilakaratne, K.I.; Peiris, T. S. G
Apparel and textile exports play a significant role in the Sri Lankan economy. The USA, UK, Italy, Germany, and Belgium are the main markets of apparel and textile exports in Sri Lanka. Advanced knowledge of export revenue is vital important for various reasons. A Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (SARIMA) model of the type (1,1,0) x (0,1,1)4 was developed to model apparel and textile export revenue in Sri Lanka using quarterly data from year 2004 quarter 1 (2004Q1) to year 2021 quarter 4 (2021Q4). The errors of the model were found to be random and have a constant variance. The best fitted model was identified by comparing various statistical indicators, namely, the Akaike info criterion, Schwarz criterion, Hannan-Quinn criterion, Log likelihood criterion and volatility of six possible models decided based on sample ACF and PACF of the stationary series. The model was validated for data from year 2022Q1 to 2023Q1. The Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) for the training data set and validation data set were 7.68% and 11.35% respectively. The predicted revenues (Mn USD) for the 2023Q2 to 2024Q4 are 1074.23, 1263.30, 1222.22, 1206.74, 1058.38, 1265.00 and 1216.58, respectively. The forecasted values for short-term periods can be effectively used by the decision makers for various activities. The model developed is easy to use and reliable.
Open Access
Disease Identification and Mapping using CNN in Paddy Fields
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Sandeepanie, W.D.N; Rathnayake, S; Gunasinghe, A
Rice, a globally vital staple crop, sustains over half of the world’s caloric needs while supporting the livelihoods of small-scale farmers and landless laborers. The escalating global population has led to an increased demand for rice production. Sri Lanka, renowned for its premium rice quality, has a rich history of paddy cultivation. However, a substantial portion of the country’s 708,000 hectares of paddy land remains underutilized due to water scarcity and unstable terrain. The objective of this project is to enhance paddy crop quality during the critical vegetative phase by employing machine learning and web development for early disease identification. The vegetative phase significantly influences overall yield, resistance to pests and diseases, nutrient assimilation, and environmental sustainability in agriculture. This project primarily focuses on early disease identification during this phase and presents the findings through a user-friendly map interface. Early identification of paddy diseases is vital for effective crop management and high yields. These diseases, caused by various pathogens, can severely impede plant growth and productivity if not promptly detected and treated. Identifying them early enables farmers and experts to take timely, targeted actions such as applying suitable fungicides or implementing cultural practices to control their spread and minimize crop damage. A logical map, displaying disease spread percentages, will gauge the impact of infections on paddy plants. The reliability of this mapping process hinges on model accuracy, which was rigorously validated using multiple metrics to ensure its effectiveness.
Open Access
Domestic Inquiry and the Principles of Natural Justice: A Critical Analysis of the Labour Law Regime of Sri Lanka
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Rajapakse, R. L. W.; Seneviratne, P. K.; Seneviratne, P. K. S. K.
Within the employer-employee relationship, the principles of natural justice demand a fair procedure to be followed before imposing punishments on employees. ILO Convention 158 and other selected foreign jurisdictions support the view that the existence of a valid reason such as a capacity problem or a conduct problem of the employee alone is not sufficient for a termination of service or another punishment to be justified and it is necessary to have applied a fair procedure by the employer in arriving at the said decision. However, the Sri Lankan labour law regime does not stipulate a statutory requirement for a domestic inquiry before imposing punishments on employees. Therefore, the sole responsibility of upholding the rule of law in workplace disciplinary matters by ensuring the principles of natural justice lies on the judiciary of Sri Lanka. Under the above context, this research explored whether the judiciary of Sri Lanka has fulfilled the said responsibility. This research study utilized the qualitative methodology where the researchers studied, analyzed, and synthesized a variety of materials gathered through primary and secondary sources to formulate a conclusion and come up with the study results. Finally, the research revealed that the lacuna of a statutory requirement for a domestic inquiry has become a great barrier to uphold the principles of natural justice by the judiciary. Therefore, the principles of natural justice are upheld by the judiciary only when implementing the Writ jurisdiction and Fundamental Rights jurisdiction. This creates discrimination between private and state sector employees including state corporation sector employees for similar matters. Finally, the research suggests stipulating the requirement of holding a domestic inquiry in Sri Lanka by way of an amendment to be made to the Industrial Disputes Act No. 43 of 1950.
Open Access
The Effect of ICT-Based Multimedia Use in Activities on Science Students’ Achievement and Motivation in Learning
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Perera, K.G.S.K.; Waidyathilaka, M.A.L.W
It is evident from the research in education that integration of ICT-based multimedia in the learning process could improve students’ achievement and enhance motivation to learn. The objectives of this research were to investigate the effect of ICT-based multimedia integration in classroom activities on students’ achievement and their motivation to learn as against the effect of the use of traditional methods in students’ activities. The design of the research was quasi-experimental in which 50 grade 7 students of a private school participated in this study. Two intact groups of 25 students were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. Same pre-test was administered to both groups. Both groups were taught the same science lesson and students of the experimental group were assigned to carry out an activity using ICT-based multimedia and those in the control group carried out the same activity using papers and colours. At the end of the activity the same pre-test was conducted as the post-test on both groups. Motivational scale based on the Keller’s ARCS model of motivation was administered on the experimental group to study the degree of motivation to use ICT-based multimedia to carry out activities. However, results indicated that there was no significant difference in achievement between students who did activities with ICT-based multimedia and those who completed activities using papers and paints. Nevertheless, the motivation to use ICT-based multimedia in activities by the students who were engaged in activities of ICT-based multimedia was found to be high.
Open Access
The Effect of Instagram Marketing Activities on Customer Based Brand Equity
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Nandasiri, S.H.U.K; Silva, H.P.T.N
Instagram is used as an effective and visual marketing channel for building brand equity in the minds of consumers. This research assisted in filling the gap by analyzing the effect of social media marketing activities on customer-based brand equity by applying the concept of brand equity to the Instagram marketing context based on clothing stores in Sri Lanka. Towards that, a quantitative method was used, and data were collected from 385 Instagram users who follow selected clothing store Instagram accounts in Sri Lanka. The survey was carried out with stratified random sampling method by taking selected six prominent clothing store Instagram accounts as strata. The results obtained through a Structural Equation Model revealed that Instagram marketing activities comprise only three dimensions: entertainment, customization, and advertisement while two dimensions: trendiness and interaction, do not have significant effect on customer-based brand equity in Sri Lankan context. Therefore, it can be recognized that Sri Lankan Instagram users who do not tend to pay attention to Instagram clothing stores when buying clothes online still have some confusion, uncertainties, unfamiliarity, and lack of knowledge about using this platform. This research suggested that Instagram platform should be promoted in Sri Lanka as a user-friendly platform and marketing plan of clothing stores should be accompanied by certain strategies in Instagram to expand brand networks, community development, and increase interaction between stores and customers.
Open Access
Effectiveness of Integrating STEM Education into Grade 8 Science Teaching and Learning Process
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Alahakoon, A.M.G.K.K.; Ekanayake, T.M.S.K.Y
Key elements of STEM education are integration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics into curriculum. The lowest mean score was achieved for sub-skill synthesis at a science national test in Sri Lanka. Therefore, the aim of study was to investigate effectiveness of STEM integration into science teaching learning process of selected schools in Wattegama Education Zone. Mixed methods approach and purposive sampling was done with 136 Grade 8 students. Quantitative data were collected from pre and post-test and analyzed using SPSS. Qualitative data were collected using activity sheets, interviews and analyzed thematically. Results showed STEM integrated activities enhanced student’s performance in school B and C (p< 0.05) except A (p >0.05). Independent sample t test showed post-test marks of experimental and control group of school A and C were not significantly different. Post-test marks of control and experimental group of school B were significantly different. Highest performance of students was shown in school B and it was not at a significant level in A and C due to crowded classrooms. There was no difference of science performance in school A, B and C (p >0.05) due to similar socio-cultural setting. The highest performed were male (B mean = 98.77), second highest was female (C mean= 97.94) and lowest was A (mean male =95.71 & mean female = 91.80) students respectively. So, male students and low number is influential, and Integration of STEM is successful to become professional teachers, expert students as lifelong learners.
Open Access
The Effectiveness of Intermittent Fasting Diet Compared with Ketogenic Diet in Reducing Weight of the Adults with Obesity – A Systematic Review
(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, SLIIT, 2023-11-01) Kamathewatte, K. W. M. N. K.; Wijedasa, H. S.; De Silva, B. S. S.
Obesity is a worldwide health concern, characterized by excessive body fat posing risks to overall health. In 2016, almost 13% of individuals above 18 years were obese, and projections for 2025 estimate higher rates, emphasizing the need for effective weight management strategies. Two popular diets, the ketogenic diet and intermittent fasting, have gained attention for their potential in adult weight reduction. Intermittent fasting involves alternating eating and fasting periods, while the ketogenic diet promotes ketosis through low carbs and high fat. This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy of intermittent fasting and ketogenic diet to clarify which approach may be more advantageous for adults looking to lose weight. Relevant literature from 2017 to 2023 was searched in databases such as CINAHL, MEDLINE, PUBMED, Science Direct, and Cochrane. Additionally, a few numbers of studies before 2017 were taken due to the availability of related information. Seven highly relevant articles were selected using PRISMA guidelines. After careful analysis, the study suggests that intermittent fasting holds promise for weight loss, particularly in comparison to the ketogenic diet. Intermittent fasting achieves weight loss without the potential side effects of the ketogenic diet, such as nutrient deficiencies. Conversely, a simple mealskipping approach in intermittent fasting may not suit everyone, warranting consultation with professionals for suitable dietary decisions. This study highlights the effectiveness of intermittent fasting as a potential weight loss strategy over the ketogenic diet, underscoring the importance of medical consultation in individual dietary planning.