http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10674 Wed, 07 Jan 2026 06:06:13 GMT 2026-01-07T06:06:13Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10726 Density Dependent Competitive Interactions between Weedy Rice (Oryza sativa F. Spontaneae) and Cultivated Rice (Bg 379-2) in Sri Lanka Weerakoon, S.R. Weedy rice (Oryza sativa f. spontaneae) is a recently emerged major threat in many rice-growing areas in tropical Asia including Sri Lanka since 1990s. Though there are scientific investigations on origin, diversity, distribution and controlling technique of weedy rice in regional and global scales, studies on the interactions between weedy rice and cultivated rice varieties under local situations are limited. A green-house experiment was conducted at the Open University, Nawala, Sri Lanka (30oC, 40% humidity) in 2015 using an improvedcultivated rice variety (Bg379-2) with varying percentages of cultivated: a black-hulled weedy rice bio-type (0, 20, 40, 60 80 100 /pot). Influence of weedy rice on growth and yield of Bg379-2 was assessed by measuring plant height and number of tillers through 2, 4, 6 and 8 weekly. Dry shoot-and root- biomass of uprooted plants at 8 weeks after sowing (8WAS)were determined through oven-dried to a constant weight at70 º C for 72 hrs and weighed to the nearest 0.01 g. Yield components of Bg379-2 including mean weight of 100 grains/plant, number of panicles/plant, number of grains/panicle and yield weight/plant were calculated. Data were statistically analyzed using SAS Ver. 9.0. Significant interactions between weedy rice bio-type and Bg379-2 were apparent after 6 weeks after sowing (WAS). A yield loss of 30% was observed even at a percentage of 20 of weedy rice at 20 /pot. The competition of weedy rice resulted in 90% loss of yield of variety Bg379-2at 80% plants/pot. For the purpose of generalization, further research is recommended to determine the effect of weedy rice density on growth and yield components of different new improved rice varieties. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10726 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10725 Decolorization of CI Direct Blue 201 Textile Dye by Native Bacteria Manage, P.M. Water pollution from untreated or partially treated textile dye effluents is one of the major problem concerns globally. Synthetic dyes extensively are used for textile dyeing process. They are highly recalcitrant to natural decolorization and degradation processes and will create drastic negative impacts on natural environment. Remediation of synthetic textile dyes through biological agents has been recorded as low cost and environmental friendly alternative for expensive chemical and physical treatment methods. Therefore the present study was aimed on the determination of CI Direct Blue 201 textile dye decolorizing ability by isolated bacteria strains. Among the 35 bacteria strains isolated from effluents of textile industries, five bacteria strains have shown remarkable decolorizing abilities on CI Direct Blue textile dye. The isolated bacteria were tentatively identified as Pseudomonas sp.1, Pseudomonas sp.2, Bacillus sp.1, Bacillus sp.2 and Micrococcus sp. by morphological features and biochemical tests. Decolorization kinetics of bacteria was recorded after 14 days of incubation with CI Direct Blue 201 dye treated at 75 ppm. Descending order of dye decolorization was resulted by Pseudomonas sp.2 (58.15 ± 0.92%), Bacillus sp.2 (55.02 ± 0.70%), Pseudomonas sp.1 (54.73 ± 1.99%), Micrococcus sp. (51.86 ± 0.49%) and Bacillus sp. 1 (51.55 ± 0.74%) at 280C respectively. Descending decolorization potential was shown by all bacteria as a response for the ascending initial concentration of dye. The highest decolorization of dye was recorded by Pseudomonas sp.2 as 67.93 ± 1.23% at 50 ppm. High decolorization percentages were obtained when bacteria were incubated at 320C compared to 280C and 240C. Results of the present study revealed that isolated bacteria will be successful aspirants for remediation of synthetic textile dyes as an ecofriendly bioremediators to consider for green application approaches. However further studies are needed to understand their dye degradation mechanism in natural environment. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10725 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10723 Legal and Engineering Aspects of Deployable Black Boxes with Video Recording Capability Abeysekara, T.B. Black box is a compilation of data produced by on-board and ground communications, specifically and inherently in digital nature; therefore it is a digital database and part of a discussion on protection of digital databases. The Existing Black box technology used in Commercial Aircraft is accommodated with Affixed type black boxes. However, if the Deployable black boxes are implemented with fixed black boxes as a dual combined recorder system, the discovery of crash location can be determined with more effectually than the present technology. The lives of the survivors, initiation of aircraft accident and investigation progression obtain safety recommendations to avoid similar happenstances will depend upon the accessibility to the crash location immediately by search and rescue organizations with the reliable information they achieved through satellite communications. Deployable Recorders will provide a backup source of flight data other than the fixed black box data; assist the investigators to carry out their investigations with more trustworthy information while implementing the video recording capability. A new idea has been introduced in this research to implement a mechanism to deploy a parachute with the ejection of the deployable recorder from the aircraft to minimize the impact during its dwindling to the ground. Not only in engineering but also the legal aspects of Deployable black boxes work along with the rights of the human beings. The legal aspect of the Deployable black boxes connect with aircraft accident and an incident investigation process can be discussed in the preview of domestic and international law; for example under the Convention on International Civil Aviation. Annex 13 of the Chicago Convention is endowed with the international requirements for the investigation of aircraft accidents and incidents. The protection over digital databases can be achieved through legal and technological means (Technological Protection Mechanisms-TPMs). The paper investigates the legal and engineering aspects of Black box technology used in Commercial Aircraft. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10723 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10722 Influence of Superimposed Capitalism on Traditional Natural Resource Utilization Systems Kumara, H. I. G. C. Most of the developing countries got capitalism superimposed during the colonial and post-colonial periods through processes of imperialism, globalization, liberalism and neo-liberalism. It was the main reason for the change in rural socio-economic settings. However, ‘lack of analytical knowledge regarding those changes’ could be identified as a ‘knowledge gap’. Considering that, Niyandagala forest reserve, which is located in the Mihidupura GN division in Lunugamvehera DS division was selected as the research area to identify and analyse changes in traditional forest utilization systems under the influence of superimposed capitalism. A qualitative-inductive research methodology has principally guided this research and a total of 38 participants have informed this research including 26 interviews (18 individuals, and 06 different focus-groups). A critical discourse analysis (CDA) method is used to examine both primary qualitative data collected through participant and direct observation, interviews and secondary data. The community residing at the peripheries of the Niyandagala forest reserve consists of isolated and marginalized local villagers who still practice traditional feudal customs. After the end of the1980s, capitalism was superimposed on the site through free trade economic policies of the country which based on contemporary global neo-liberalism ideologies. As one of the characteristics of the process of capitalism being superimposed on local culture, the traditional feudal values of local communities in the site got mixed up with capitalist values creating a ‘feudal-capitalist' socioeconomic structure. It was the main reason for changes occurred in local traditional forest utilization systems which shifted from ‘feudal value based collectivist’ to ‘profit oriented individualist’ systems. That led into two main changes; first, increasing economic competition and forest degradation; second, rising numbers of villager migration from the site to outside looking for capitalist fantasies and resultant socio-economic disorientation. The main research conclusion is that superimposed capitalism can bring about social anomie. This kind of social change can be harmful to ecosystem as well as socio-economic structure. Sun, 01 Jan 2017 00:00:00 GMT http://dr.lib.sjp.ac.lk/handle/123456789/10722 2017-01-01T00:00:00Z