SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities [SICASH]
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SLIIT International Conference on Advancements in Science and Humanities is organized by the Faculty of Humanities and Sciences of the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), the annual research multi-conference of the faculty.
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Publication Embargo A comparison study of removing Rhodamine B from waste water by functionalized natural and synthetic porous carbon.(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Ranchagoda, R.A.S.S.; Jayaruk, T.C.Textile industry discharge a huge amount of dye containing waste water which pollutes water, soil and also have adverse effect on human health, animal and plant. Approximately 10 - 15% of the synthetic dyes is released into the industrial waste, causing serious environmental problem, flora and fauna of aquatic ecosystem. It causes contamination of surface water, accumulation of toxic and carcinogenic substances in water. Rhodamine B is widely used in industrial purposes. However, the organic dyes will cause serious environmental and biological problems. Thus the removal of dye from water is a great challenge and a pressing task. Various porous carbon materials were applied to remove organic dye materials such as Rhodamine B from wastewater. Synthetic porous carbon was synthesized through the sol-gel method and carbonization process and naturally abundant waste materials like Rice husk and Coconut husk available at low cost were used as functionalized porous carbon materials which were obtained from slow pyrolysis process. According to the FT-IR, SEM and adsorption analysis adsorption capacities of these porous carbon materials were determined for Rhodamine B. HNO3 treated porous carbon materials were expressed positive results for absorptivity of RhB.Publication Embargo The Social Vision Reflected Through the Poetry of William Blake(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Abeywickrama, D.D.The poetry of William Blake is an ideal portrayal of social issues which prevailed during the poetic period of romanticism. The poem “London” has been presented in a way to make the readers aware about the concept of commercialization. London, was not a peaceful city anymore. Corruption has gnawed the innocence of people. Thus, it has made them immoral. Furthermore, Blake’s progressive vision of the 20th century concept on gender equality is promoted in ‘The Sick Rose’, which is a symbolical representation of women’s plight in parasitic relationships. The poem, ‘The Sick Rose’ indicates problems which are parallel to those of our current society where, sensual pleasures are given more prominence over spirituality. Simply, reciprocation of love does not exist anymore due to insatiable sensual desires of mankind. In addition, Blake displays his social vision in presenting children as the victimized entity in “Holy Thursday” and “The Chimney Sweeper”. The pain, torture and agony encountered by children who were brought up under institutional care were not publicly displayed. However, all this was suppressed by religion and the religious leaders, which indeed is ironic and repulsive. “The Chimney Sweeper” is a denunciation of the material conditions and the institutions: the established church, mercenary and the uncaring parents who promoted child labour. Blake’s social vision could have been influenced by the French revolution and industrialization which would have brought out quite a few social problems which are valid in the 21st century as well.Publication Embargo Off the Wall: A Literary Analysis on 'The Fly'(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Hafsa, U.; Kamaali, U.; Siriwardena, P.; Weerasinghe, S.; Kaushani, Y.The poster analyzes the literary depth and purpose of the poem, “The Fly” written during the Romantic period by the Gothic painter, engraver and poet, William Blake. It briefly explores the biography of the author and his contribution to the period through his voluminous works of poetry which illustrate ideas on religion, politics and the social environment of that era which was influenced by the French and Industrial Revolutions. This poem could lay claim to the Romantic Era as it is based on themes including personal contemplations on ideas of valuing all life great and small, the inevitable march of time and how one must make the most of every moment of life. The literary devices used include using the fly as a symbol of the trivial lives men lead, the imagery of summer representing new life in bloom, in addition, rhetorical questions that challenge conventional thought are also seen. There are also underlying notions of the appreciation of nature, how the most seemingly insignificant of events can cause man to contemplate the brevity of life, an unspoken warning against playing God is also given. The poster emphasizes Blake’s ability to compel readers/listeners to put themselves in the position of a fly, under the power of something greater and more powerful than themselves. It illustrates the futility of leading directionless lives of revelry until the fateful hand of death takes hold. The clear, powerful, yet simple message it sends is - carpe diem, seize the day, the minute, the hour and the opportunities before they inevitably pass us by.Publication Embargo Metal Recovery from Printed Circuit Boards through Biotechnology(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Alwis, M.A.M.A.; Nishshanka, N.A.K.Y.A.; Mirissage, M.S.A.S.N.; Fernando, W.R.S.; Perera, D.S.M.; Fernando, W.P.E.M.The increase of e-waste generated through electrical and electronic equipment has led to vast exploitation in recent years as they have increased the risk of destruction of both life and the environment. The end-of-life PCBs represent one of the most significant wastes in this category. PCBs contain a high amount of Cu and Zn with concentrations around 25% and 2% respectively. Pyrometallurgical treatments and hydrometallurgical treatments are the most common methods used for PCB recycling at present. Bio-hydrometallurgical strategies have been identified as a successful alternative for the existing methods as they reduce the economic costs and are more environmentally friendly. The poster introduces a sustainable bioleaching process by using two bacteria Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Leptospirillum ferrooxidans. This developed technology allows to obtain a high PCB concentration and to reduce the metal toxicity on the bacteria metabolism. Ferric iron was used as the oxidant to leach Cu and Zn. The best conditions were when At. ferrooxidans was used at 30ºC, with a solid concentration of 5% (w/v) with 10g/L of Fe2+ for 9 days. The carbon footprint assessment proved the environmental advantage of the process. The bioleaching treatment which was the most efficient method according to the analyzation explained that the amount of raw material reduction that results in decreasing the bioreactor size and lowering the energy requirement could be facilitated by increasing the PCB concentration. Through this process, the environmental impact could be decreased up to 4 times compared to the existing bioleaching processes.Publication Embargo Molecular Approach to the Covid 19 VIRUS(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Duleela, S.; Dulara, S.; Silva, S.; Inuli, U.; Shivani, T.Covid - 19 has become a burning problem that has spread all over the world. Cities locked down, airports closed, children have no way of attending school. It is said that for the past few months, more than 2/3 of the world’s population were under lockdown. All these happened as a result of a tiny virus. This article refers to the scientific approach of the Covid -19 virus and how this virus could be eradicated from the world. It includes the latest facts that are found by researchers, scientists and biotechnologists all around the world. It mainly focusses on the structure of the virus, the types of Corona viruses and the lifecycle of the Covid -19 virus. Further it discusses different types of the Corona virus that have affected the whole world in the past and this article shows how this virus has spread among the main countries in the world. University of Oxford, a leading university in UK as well as around the world is taking the lead in finding a vaccine for this deadly virus. Also, how our very own Sri Lankan Scientists and Biotechnologists are striving hard to find a cure for this virus is further discussed in this article. Few recommendations are given in order to get protected from this deadly virusPublication Embargo Biotechnology - The Panacea When Everything Else Fails(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Fernando, K.S.P.; Gamage, J.H.Biotechnology is a vivid and a widely applied component in the present world. As the whole humanity is under a huge threat of a global pandemic, the presence of innovative biotechnological applications is in dire need. In this review, we are discussing about a plethora of major immunological threats that took place in the globe from the dawn of time. The biggest spotlight would be given to the remarkable biotechnological advancements that are carried out by accomplished research scientists across the globe, regarding the SARS-CoVid-2 virus, as it is the biggest threat prevailing at the moment. A diverse number of researches are being conducted by individuals and organizations in every nook and corner of the world to combat this threat and these experiments are mainly being performed by genetically altering the DNA and RNA sequences of the virus model and by modifying the genetic information of human host cells. A couple of vaccines that are capable of reducing the virulence of the above-mentioned virus have been introduced by scientists and now are being administered at a global level. The latest additions to these vaccines are Moderna, Pfizer- BioNTech vaccine, AstraZeneca vaccine and the Johnsons & Johnsons vaccine. Different Covid-19 detection tests such as the RT-PCR test, rapid antigen test and serological test are also being implemented with the aid of biotechnology. Furthermore, a simple suggestion to make the testing procedure more convenient for this virus is also being discussed in the latter part of the review. These types of immunity-based attacks can be avoided to a certain extent by the effective use of biotechnological techniques.Publication Embargo Applications, Benefits and Drawbacks of Bioprinting – A Review(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Hewagama, H.; Chamathka, H.; Nilaweera, G.Tissue regeneration technology, also known as ‘bioprinting’ is a work in progress and has made many advances in recent years. Following the invention of 3D printing in the 1980’s, bioprinting has evolved to print various tissues such as heart valves, hepatic tissues and breast cancer cells. Now, many commercial bioprinters are available. Bioprinters show variety in the way they function, their speed, and their cost of operation. There are three common techniques used in this technology: inkjet-based, laser-assisted and extrusion-based bioprinting. The printers require a bioink and scaffold to ensure production of mechanically stable constructs which are able to mimic human tissues. Specific hydrogels and biomaterials are chosen for each printing method. Mainly, gelatin, agarose, alginate, hyaluronic acid, chitosan and fibrin are used. Biopolymers such as PEGDA, PEG and PEGX- PEG are used for structural maintenance of tissues. The Bioprinting technology aims to improve treatments for burns, injuries and cardiovascular diseases by replacing traditional treatments such as autografts, allografts and skin grafts. Ethical issues and legal issues exist with this novel technology but its benefits for animal testing, drug discovery and organ transplantation cannot be ignored.Publication Embargo A Comparative Study between Tissue Biopsy and Liquid Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Cancer(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Balaakshayan, B.; Sathsarani, A. M. A.; Kumarasinghe, N. M.; Rathnayake, R. M.; Perera, M. R. N.; Annan, N.J.Tissue biopsy is invasive, and it can be accompanied by surgical complications and pain. Concept of liquid biopsy is the analysis of tumors utilizing biomarkers circulating in liquids, for example, the blood. Samples may be insufficient and need repeating- Tissue biopsies may not generally be effortlessly acquired and frequently may include the utilization of progressively obtrusive methodology. In tissue biopsy, a long thin needle is inserted into the area of suspicion. Liquid biopsy is a test done on a blood sample to find DNA fragments from cancer cells or cancer cells in a blood clot. The basic needle biopsy uses a large needle with a cutting tip to draw a strip of tissue from a suspicious area. Liquid biopsies can be used to help detect cancer at an early stage. Most pathologists depend on playing out a tissue biopsy to analyze a malady and they are prepared explicitly to perform different cytological tests on the submitted tissue example. The needle used throughout a core biopsy is Associate in Nursing empty cylinder that allows to untangle a core of tissue for testing. Tissue diagnostic test to assist Associate in Nursing analyze Associate in Nursing upset or to preclude an upset or condition. Advantages and Disadvantages of Liquid biopsy Advantages of Liquid biopsy ct-DNA and CTCs represent the overall tumor heterogeneity and help in the complete assessment of patient's resistance and in predicting response to 1790M- targeted inhibitors.Publication Embargo Factors influence in adapting of bottled water consumption in selected urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara DS division(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Anuruddi, H.I.G.K.; Fernando, K.M.C.Bottled drinking water usage shows a rising trend in worldwide and has become a key component in the segment of non-alcoholic beverages while becoming a massive environmental issue due to the plastic wastes accumulated due to this industry. Apart from the demographic factors such as gender, occupation and age, factors such as degree of urbanization also affect for the consumption pattern of bottled drinking water. Therefore a survey was conducted to examine the factors that influence bottled water consumption in selected urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara Divisional Secretariat division in Sri Lanka. Grama Niladhari divisions of Walgama North, Hiththetiya and Issadeen town were selected as urban areas, Thudawa, Meddewaththa and Godagama as semi urban areas and Weherahena, Maakawita and Kekanadura as rural areas for the study. Randomly selected 150 respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Survey was carried out during July to August in 2019. According to the survey 18% and 12% of the respondents in urban and semi urban areas use bottled water as their primary drinking water source respectively while none of the respondents use bottled water as primary drinking source in rural areas. The influence of demographic factors such as age, gender and occupation on bottled water consumption varies in urban, semi urban and rural areas of Matara DS division. People in urban and semi urban areas have a better awareness on the origin and the treatments done to the bottled water than that to the people in rural areas. In urban areas bottled water is used for drinking (96%) and cooking (6%). But in rural and semi urban areas used only for drinking. In rural areas, bottled water is used in a flood condition and when travelling. In rural and semi urban areas, salty, muddy conditions and chlorine taste and odor of tap water, frequent water cuts and health concerns lead people to buy bottled drinking water.Publication Embargo Production of Cassava Starch Composite as a Sustainable Alternative for Plastics(Faculty of Humanities and Sciences - SLIIT, 2021-03-26) Kodithuwakku, P. K.; Sirimuthu, N. M. S.; Yatawara, C.; Senarath-Yapa, M.D.Production of petroleum-based non-biodegradable plastic is increasing all over the world while making a huge threat to the environment. As a solution, in the past few decades, there has been a marked advance in the development of bio-plastics from renewable resources mainly from starch-based materials for different applications. The aim of this study was to develop a bio-plastic from Cassava (Manihot esculenta) and reinforce with materials to improve the tensile properties with respect to HDPE towards industrial applications. Initially, starch was extracted from the Cassava tubers and using the ‘doctor-blade method’, plastic films were prepared with various formulations. By varying percentages of Citric acid and Phosphoric acid, a series of plastic films were made and to optimized tensile strength with to respect HDPE. An optimized recipe for plastic films containing Cassava starch, Citric acid and, Phosphoric acid was selected to incorporate reinforcing modifiers such as Graphene Oxide (GO) and r-GO. GO for reinforcement was produced using Tour’s method. The chemical and mechanical properties of the produced films were recorded and analysed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and tensile strength tester respectively. Additionally, an ANOVA was also performed for all the tensile strength results, at a confidence level of 95% to select the optimized recipe. The FTIR spectroscopy revealed an appearance of ester carbonyl peak at 1700-1750 cm-1 indicating that the hydroxyl group of starch has been cross-linked with Citric acid forming an ester group. Tensile strength results indicated that the strength of the cross-linked films have also increased beyond the reported value for HDPE, which is 20 MPa. The tensile strength and FTIR spectroscopy results obtained for different films concluded that the optimized Citric acid percentage as 3%(w/w) with 1%(w/w) Phosphoric acid. The ANOVA indicated that there is a statistically significant effect on tensile strength at 95% confidence level from the interaction between Phosphoric acid and Citric acid. Time limitation and waiting period for certain results restricted the fast progress of the project and therefore had to limit the original scope. In conclusion, plastic films containing 96% Cassava starch were prepared to match the tensile strength of HDPE and some preliminary studies of reinforcement were carried out with GO and r-GO. Further studies to show the permeability, biodegradability and solubility should be carried out with these plastic films to optimize towards industrial applications.