bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overcoming Low Teaching Self-efficacy of English as a Foreign Language Teachers in Secondary Vocational Schools
Authors: Zhang Zhongyue , Bin Sihes Ahmad Johari
Published: February 2024

The new English curriculum stand (MOE, 2020) has put forward high requirements for China secondary vocational school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers’ qualities. As part of teachers’ qualities, teaching self-efficacy determines their teaching practices and students’ general achievements. Research has found China secondary vocational school EFL teachers lack confidence in teaching processes (Liu, 2018). Therefore, this study reports on a qualitative study exploring factors contributing to the enhancement of EFL teachers’ teaching self-efficacy in China secondary vocational education context. It is based on the views of 12 experts from Higher Education Institutions, Teacher Training Colleges and the Academy of Educational Sciences, and Secondary Vocational Schools in China to learn more about what factors can enhance EFL teachers’ teaching self-efficacy in China secondary vocational schools. The interview data were examined using thematic analysis which allows for a detailed exploration of the data, and 12 themes emerged from that analysis in terms of experiences, knowledge, and school culture. These themes encompassed various aspects, including enactive mastery experiences, vicarious learning experiences, interactive experiences, physical and emotional states, learners and learning, the pedagogy and curriculum, the English language, the self, vocational background, school spiritual culture, school material culture, and school system culture. The article concludes by considering the implications of the results for those designing policies and professional learning activities for secondary vocational EFL teachers and suggesting potential avenues for future research.
The Relationship between Academic Performance, Peer Pressure, and Educational Stress as It Relates to High School Students’ Openness to Seeking Professional Psychological Help
Authors: Nguyen-Thi Hang-Phuong , Truong Anh Ngoc , Le Vy Truc , Kieu Nguyen Xuan Thanh , Tran-Chi Vinh-Long
Published: February 2024

Adolescents, especially high school students, are more susceptible to stress and encounter other mental health issues. This is linked to extrinsic causes like academics, family, and friends. However, previous studies have shown low rates of students seeking professional psychological help for their problems. This study investigate the relationship among factors including academic performance, educational stress, peer pressure and openness to seeking professional psychological help. We conducted this study with 471 high school students (grades 10–12) engaged. The questionnaire was based on three measurements: peer pressure short form (PPSF), educational stress scale for adolescents (ESSA), and openness to seeking professional psychological help (ATSPPH_O). The Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test and The PLS-SEM method were used to evaluate this research. The results showed that: (i) students with a higher level of peer pressure have a greater openness to seeking professional psychological help; (ii) the more open to seeking professional psychological help, the higher educational stress that students got; (iii) students with a higher level of peer pressure have greater educational stress; (iv) the openness to seeking professional psychological help would mediate the relationship between peer pressure and educational stress; (v) there was a significant difference between academic performance of peer pressure. On the one hand, counselors, clinicians, and therapists must identify students who are experiencing educational stress in the context of peer pressure as vulnerable groups in need of early mental health interventions. On the other hand, educators and teachers must consider the impact of peer pressure on students' academic performance and devise appropriate teaching strategies.
Pemanfaatan E-Modul Berbasis Multimodal sebagai Media Pembelajaran Menulis Berita
Authors: Himmah Ulil , Yusuf Munawir , Drajati Nur Arifah
Published: February 2024

Dalam konteks globalisasi dan perkembangan teknologi yang pesat saat ini, semua sarana komunikasi di bawah teori multimodalitas menjadi lebih signifikan. Multimodalitas merujuk pada penggunaan beragam sumber komunikasi verbal dan visual untuk menciptakan berbagai jenis dan tingkat keterlibatan dialogis dalam suatu teks. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pemanfaatan E-modul berbasis multimodal sebagai media pembelajaran menulis berita untuk mendukung transparansi publik. Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah studi literatur dengan menggunakan pendekatan deskriptif kualitatif. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan dokumen berupa hasil-hasil penelitian terdahulu yang relevan dengan fokus penelitian yang dimuat di dalam jurnal nasional maupun internasional. Teknik analisis data menggunakan teknik naratif komparatif. Hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa E-modul berbasis multimodal sangat bermanfaat sebagai media pembelajaran menulis berita. Perlu dikembangan E-modul berbasis multimodal sebagai media pembelajaran menulis berita untuk meningkatkan kemampuan menulis berita.
Pengembangan E-Modul Berbasis Multimodal untuk Mendukung Pembelajaran PJOK pada Siswa SD
Authors: Saputri Sukartini Nani , Drajati Nur Arifah , Sukmawati Fatma
Published: February 2024

Artikel ini membahas pengembangan desain dan produk dari media pembelajaran PJOK di SD berupa aplikasi Penggunaan modul elektronik (e-modul) dalam konteks pembelajaran memungkinkan para guru untuk mengatasi tantangan dalam pembelajaran dan meningkatkan kemampuan kreatif peserta didik, serta untuk mengetahui efektivitas penggunaan (e-modul)  pada pembelajaran PJOK. E-modul sering kali mengadopsi pendekatan penyampaian digital multimodal guna menciptakan pengalaman belajar yang berarti dan efektif. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendukung Kemampuan belajar siswa melalui pengembangan e-modul berbasis multimodal. Jenis penelitian ini yaitu pengembangan dengan menggunakan model 4D. Subjek yang terlibat dalam penelitian ini yakni ahli mata pelajaran, ahli desain pembelajaran, ahli media pembelajaran, serta 9 orang siswa sebagai subjek uji coba perorangan. Pengumpulan data dalam penelitian dilakukan dengan angket dan wawancara. Data yang diperoleh kemudian dianalisis dengan menggunakan analisis deskriptif kualitatif dan deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa e-modul yang dikembangkan dinyatakan valid dengan hasil review ahli isi (97%), hasil review ahli desain (95,4%), hasil review ahli media (97,5%), hasil uji coba perorangan (90%), dan hasil uji coba kelompok kecil (93,7%). Berdasarkan hasil tersebut dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa bahan ajar e-modul yang dikembangkan berada dalam kualifikasi sangat baik, sehingga sangat layak untuk dikembangkan dan dibelajarkan kepada peserta didik.
Penerapan Model Pembelajaran Kooperatif Tipe STAD dalam Meningkatkan Hasil Belajar Akidah Akhlak
Authors: Hakim Arif Choiruman , Sunardi Sunardi , Djono Djono
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian tindakan kelas dengan subjek penelitian adalah siswa kelas IV Madrasah Islamiyah Jatigede, Sumberrejo, Bojonegoro yang berjumlah 25 orang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peningkatan hasil belajar akidah akhlak siswa kelas IV Madrasah Islamiyah Jatigede, Sumberrejo, Bojonegoro. Data penelitian dikumpulkan menggunakan teknik observasi dan metode tes. Data dianalis menggunakan analisis deskriptif kuantitatif. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa persentase hasil belajar akidah akhlak siswa pada siklus I sebesar 44% dengan kategori “Sangat Rendah”. Sedangkan pada siklus II sebesar 88% dengan kategori “Tinggi”. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan model pembelajaran kooperatif tipe STAD dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar akidah akhlak siswa kelas IV Madrasah Islamiyah Jatigede, Sumberrejo, Bojonegoro.
Video Interaktif untuk Optimalisasi Kemampuan Bernalar Kritis Mewujudkan Profil Pelajar Pancasila
Authors: Riani Elisa , Rejekiningsih Triana , Santosa Eka Budhi
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengatasi permasalahan rendahkan kemampuan bernalar kritis peserta didik sebagai aspek penting dari Profil Pelajar Pancasila. Metode penelitian dirancang dengan pendekatan kuantitatif melalui desain pre-experimental dengan mengadopsi model one group pre-test post-test. Subjek penelitian ini merupakan 30 peserta didik kelas V di SDN Pejambon Bojonegoro. Data yang telah dikumpulkan melalui tes kemudian dianalisis secara kuantitatif menggunakan uji paired sample t-test dengan bantuan SPSS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pemanfaatan video interaktif memiliki penharuh yang signifikan terhadap peningkatan kemampuan bernalar kritis peserta didik. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa integrasi teknologi dalam pendidikan, khususnya melalui media video, memperkaya pengalaman belajar dan memfasilitasi pengembangan kemampuan bernalar kritis peserta didik, yang dapat mewujudkan tujuan Profil Pelajar Pancasila.
Inovasi Digital Pengarsipan: Dampak Google Form pada Kemampuan Kader Pemberdayaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga (PKK)
Authors: Rahmawati Alfi Nur Fitria , Murwaningsih Tri , Efendi Agus
Published: February 2024

Praktik pengelolaan arsip PKK masih berlangsung dengan metode konvensional, meskipun teknologi digital terus berkembang di masyakarat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memfasilitasi transisi ke pengelolaan administratif digital di PKK, dengan menanamkan kemampuan, meliputi pemahaman, sikap dan keterampilan kader PKK dalam penggunaan Google Form untuk pengarsipan data. Penelitian ini dirancang menggunakan metode kuantitatif dengan pendekatan deskriptif. Pelatihan dilakukan sebagai intervensi dari pemanfaatan Google Form. Pada akhir pelatihan, kemampuan kader PKK memanfaatkan Google Form dievaluasi menggunakan kuesioner penilaian. Data kuesioner kemudian dianalisis secara deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan adanya dampak positif dalam seluruh aspek kemampuan yang dievaluasi, menandakan dampak Google Form pada kemampuan kader PKK meningkatkan kualitas pengelolaan pengarsipan. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa pelatihan yang ditargetkan dapat memfasilitasi transisi yang efektif dari sistem manual ke digital.
Pengembangan E-Book untuk Meningkatkan Pemahaman Ibu Tentang Pola Asuh Pemberian MPASI
Authors: Fatmala Anggi , Widyastono Herry , Sukmawati Fatma
Published: February 2024

Makanan Pendamping Air Susu Ibu (MPASI) adalah makanan dan minuman semi padat yang diberikan pada bayi usia 6 bulan sebagai Pendamping Air Susu Ibu (PASI) yang berguna untuk memenuhi kebutuhan zat gizi bagi bayi. Namun kenyataan yang dijumpai tidak semua ibu memiliki pengetahuan tentang gizi dan pola asuh pemberian MPASI pada bayi.  Tingkat pengetahuan ibu tentang gizi sangat penting dalam meningkatkan status gizi anak, mulai dari menentukan, memilih, mengolah sampai dengan menyajikan menu gizi sehari-hari. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengembangan e-book untuk meningkatkan pemahaman ibu tentang pola asuh pemberian MPASI. Penelitian ini menerapkan metode Research and Development (R&D) dengan mengadaptasi model ADDIE. Subjek penelitian ini adalah ahli materi dan ahli media, serta 34 peserta pelatihan atau orang tua yang memiliki anak usia 6-24 bulan, ibu muda, atau pengantin baru, serta bidan desa dan pemerintah desa di Desa Mayanggeneng, Kabupaten Bojonegoro. Data penelitian dikumpulkan dengan menggunakan kuesioner dan penilaian peserta pelatihan melalui tes yang terdiri dari pre-test dan post-test. Teknik analisis data kuesioner menggunakan analisis deskriptif, sedangkan untuk pre-test dan post-test digunakan secara kuantitatif berupa teknik independent sample t-test. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kelas eksperimen dengan menggunakan e-book memiliki hasil evaluasi yang lebih baik dibandingkan kelas kontrol tanpa e-book. Dengan hasil tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa e-book efektif dalam meningkatkan pemahaman ibu tentang pola asuh pemberian MPASI.
Analisis Resepsi Khalayak Generasi Z tentang Kekerasan Verbal pada Channel Twitch Masalohehe_
Authors: Rahmadi Yobel Budining , Arviani Heidy
Published: February 2024

Pada masa globalisasi, teknologi dan komunikasi memiliki perkembangan yang sangat pesat sehingga teknologi merupakan sesuatu yang tidak dapat dihindari oleh masyarakat. Internet kini menjadi salah satu sumber informasi yang dipakai oleh masyarakat karena sifatnya yang mudah diakses dimana saja dan kapan saja. Di tengah meningkatnya penggunaan internet juga disertai oleh meningkatnya perkembangan game online. Game online merupakan salah satu sektor hiburan yang diminati oleh masyarakat. Perkembangannya yang semula hanya dimainkan secara offline kini dapat dimainkan secara online berkat adanya internet yang semakin berkembang. Para pemain game online tidak hanya bermain saja, mereka dapat menyiarkan kegiatanya dengan melakukan live streaming. Marlo gemar menayangkan game FPS seperti Valorant, CSGO, dan Apex Legends di channel live streamnya, namun pada saat ini Marlo lebih sering menayangkan game Valorant di live stream miliknya. Peneliti memilih channel Twitch masalohehe_ karena sering melontarkan kata-kata kasar dan dapat mengakibatkan dampak yang buruk. Dampaknya dapat berupa ditirunya kalimat-kalimat yang mengandung kekerasan verbal oleh para penonton atau steamer lainnya. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui penerimaan penonton generasi Z tentang kekerasan verbal pada channel masalohehe_ di aplikasi Twitch. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode deskriptif kualitatif. Media memiliki pemaknaan sendiri terhadap suatu pesan, namun khalayak memaknai pesan yang disampaikan oleh media secara beragam. Hal itu disebabkan oleh peran khalayak dengan peran khalayak secara penuh dalam melakukan interpretasi khalayak itu sendiri. Hal ini mendasari pemaknaan informan terhadap channel Twitch masalohehe_ dipengaruhi oleh pengetahuan, latar belakang, lingkungan, dan lainnya.
Efektivitas Penggunaan Pipa U dalam mendeteksi Zat Cair misterius untuk meningkatkan hasil belajar Fisika Siswa SMAN 9 Pontianak
Authors: Eliyanti Endang Tri Siti , S Haratua Tiur Maria , Karolina Venny
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas pengguanaan Pipa U dalam mendeteksi cairan misterius untk meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa SMAN 9 Pontianak. penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan kuantitatif yang dipadukan dengan metode penelitian Pre-experimental Design sedangkan rancanganya mengguanakan one group pretest -posttest desaign. Populasi pada penilitian ini adalah Seluruh siswa SMAN 9 Pontianak kelas XI IPA dengan pemilihan sampel menggunakan teknik purposive sampling dan terpilihlah siswa kelas XI IPA 1. Untuk mengukur efektifitas perlakuan, peneliti memberikan pretest terlebih dahulu dan setelah perlakuan untuk mengukur hasil belajarnya siswa kemudian diberikan posttest. Hasil analisis pretest-posttest diperoleh nilai N-gain 0,67 dengan kategori sedang. Karena data tidak berdistribusi normal sehingga dilakukan uji statistik dengan uji Wilcoxon. Hasil Uji Wilcoxon menunjukkan bahwa nilai signifikansi (sig) 0,000 yang diperoleh berada di bawah nilai alfa (?) yang ditetapkan (? < 0,05). Berdasarkan analisis data tersebut maka dapat disimpulkan penggunaan Pipa U dalam mendeteksi cairan misterius efektif dalam meningkatkan hasil belajar siswa SMAN 9 Pontianak.
Melampaui Metrik: Menilai Ulang Korelasi Antara Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dan Motivasi Karyawan dalam Setting Pendidikan
Authors: Micel Micel , Sandra Lidia
Published: February 2024

Penelitian kuantitatif ini mengeksplorasi korelasi antara Key Performance Indicators (KPI) dengan motivasi kerja karyawan dalam setting pendidikan, di Sekolah Cendekia Harapan. Dengan menggunakan Kuesioner Stott dan Walker, data dikumpulkan dari total sampel 33 karyawan sekolah. Analisis korelasi Pearson Product-Moment mengungkapkan tidak adanya korelasi signifikan antara skor KPI dengan motivasi kerja karyawan (r = 0.327, p > 0.05), menyarankan bahwa KPI mungkin bukan pendorong utama hasil motivasional dalam konteks ini. Temuan ini menekankan pentingnya pendekatan multifaset terhadap motivasi karyawan yang melampaui metrik kinerja tradisional. Penelitian lebih lanjut disarankan untuk menyelidiki variabel motivasional tambahan, menilai kritis kerangka kerja KPI dan operasionalisasinya, serta mendirikan forum partisipatif bagi karyawan untuk terlibat dalam dialog konstruktif mengenai penilaian kinerja dan strategi motivasi.
Law Goes Blue: A Phase towards a Sustainable Marine Life
Authors:   University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, Samaradiwakar Sujatha
Published: February 2024

The blue economy concept gained significant momentum in Rio +20, where nations undertook the promise to embark on sustainable blue growth. The overexploitation of ocean resources has brought in a sustainable development crisis, and in response to tackling its challenges has emerged the concept of the Blue Economy, which encompasses the two competing discourses - exploiting the marine resources and ocean sustainability. Blue economy, therefore, offers a fresh approach to conserving the oceans while extracting its benefits equitably and sustainably. In an age where the emphasis is on the green economy, the blue economy tries to bolster it rather than replace it. Sri Lanka, due to its geographical location in the Indian Ocean, is blessed with maritime areas seven times larger than the land area, and it provides one of the frontiers for economic development. Fishing, sea transportation, tourism, seabed mining and minerals are the activities that have immense potential in providing sustainable livelihood. Findings of the existing literature on this topic show that they are not comprehensive nor give sufficient attention to the legislative framework of Sri Lanka in harnessing the emerging concept so as to attain sustainable development. Hence, there is a gap in the existing literature as no study has discussed the legislative and policy framework and the challenges in giving effect to the blue economy. Research Problem includes despite the fact that there are catena of environmental legislation enacted in the idea of protecting and preserving the nature and its riches to which extent the legislations could be utilized to promote the blue economy concept? The purpose of this research paper is to examine the existing legal framework that bolsters the emerging concept of the blue economy and the challenges in protecting the marine ecosystem in the Sri Lankan context. This paper, employing a doctrinal legal research methodology, examines the importance of the blue economy concept to the island as a whole and the legislative initiatives that have been taken by the government to honour the concept of the blue economy while preserving and protecting the marine ecology. To this end, the paper analyses the relevant national legislations and the International Conventions which constitute as primary sources and to a lesser extent the scholarly articles on the concept as secondary sources. The paper concludes that the existing domestic legal framework could be utilized successfully to implement the concept and highlights the fact that the decision-makers and the judiciary should be willing and committed to recognizing the concept and, at the same, time prioritizing the conservation of the marine ecosystem.
Informal Caregivers’ Perception of Barriers for Cognitive Health Promotion Activities for Older Adults in Galle District
Authors:   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Sundarapperuma T.D , Kariyawasam P.N ,   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, De Silva K ,   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Madushanth H ,   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Gamage M. K. ,   Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences
Published: February 2024

Health promotion activities to improve cognition have shown a significant impact on the prevention of cognitive decline in elderly people. Limited studies are available on the caregivers’ perceptions of barriers to health promotion interventions to improve the cognitive health of older adults. A qualitative descriptive explorative study was conducted with the participation of 17 caregivers. Data were collected through focus group discussions, and all the sessions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. The thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The mean age ±SD of the participants was 40.24±4.7 years and 9 participants out of 17 were female. Five themes were identified based on discussions with caregivers. These themes were lack of awareness of cognitive decline and preventive interventions, the physical discomfort of older people, lack of financial independence, resource deficiency, and intransigent behavior. The findings revealed that the majority of caregivers do not have an appropriate understanding of cognitive health promotion interventions. Therefore, a well-structured, culturally sensitive, and person centered intervention programme would be beneficial to introduce cognitive health promotion activities for older adults and caregivers.
A Study of ICT Literacy of Grade 10 Students in Nuwara Eliya District
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Munasinghe Jayani G.A , Perera K.G.S.K ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

Since ICT is fundamentally linked to the majority of human daily activities, exploring possible opportunities for improving ICT education is therefore seen as being extremely important in this era. This research aims to critically analyzing the ICT literacy level in grade 10 students in Nuwaraeliya district, to determine the factors that affect ICT literacy and to propose possible advancement to overcome the difficulties in ICT-based education in Sri Lanka. This is a quantitative study in which data were collected using questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed using statistical methods. Based on the analysis it was discovered that the students do not have adequate ICT literacy. The findings suggest that, ICT should be taught at school commencing as early as possible with more time being allocated, trained and competent teachers should be recruited to teach ICT subjects and infrastructure facilities should be enhanced.
Enhancement of Semiconductor Properties of ZnO and Cu2 O for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors:   University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka, Kariyawasm Malka , Hewage Jinasena ,   Dickinson State University, ND 58601, USA
Published: February 2024

The Photovoltaics phenomenon is one of the major turning points in the battle against the depletion of fossil fuels. Sunlight being the main resource in photovoltaics, there still remains a quest to harvest it efficiently, to generate electricity. This study is focused on designing a basic, cost-effective prototype solar cell using ZnO and Cu2 O nanoparticles (NPs) under normal university laboratory conditions. An ITO-coated glass was used as the substrate of the solar cell and a modified low-temperature chemical bath deposition method was used to fabricate the solar cell. Both ZnO and Cu2 O were synthesized by aqueous precipitation methods while cobalt co-doped Ag-ZnO NPs were synthesized by solvothermal method. The UV-spectroscopic analysis confirmed the characteristic band of ZnO-NPs at 367.5 nm, Cu2 O at 360 nm and cobalt co-doped Ag-ZnO at 378 nm. The FTIR spectrum showed sharp peaks at 460 cm-1 and 606 cm-1 for the corresponding Zn-O bond and Cu-O bond respectively with a broad peak at 1329 cm-1 for Cu2 O FTIR, due to the chemisorbed and/or physisorbed H2 O and CO2 molecules on the surface of nanostructure. The EDX analysis showed the presence of carbon impurity in ZnO-NPs which resulted in a deviated XRD pattern for ZnO while Cu2 O showed the characteristic XRD pattern. The solar cell, which was illuminated under three different lux conditions had a characteristic J-V plot when measured through Gamry Potentiostat. This simple, cost-effective technique can be adopted by large-scale solar cell manufacturing firms to build small prototype solar cells.
In Silico Identification of Abiotic Stress-Responsive Candidate Genes in Rice and Their Allelic Differences Between At 354 and Bg 352
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Rathnayake Saubhagya , Kottearachchi Nisha ,   Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Lankika S. P. C ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

Rice (Oryza sativa L) feeds more than half of the world’s population. One of the main elements that harm yield globally is abiotic stress. Therefore, it is important to develop abiotic stress tolerant rice varieties in order to increase rice productivity and to extend the cultivation. The lack of knowledge of the genetic mechanisms underlying abiotic stress tolerance is the primary issue with the traditional breeding technique. Hence, studying genes responsible for abiotic stress mechanisms is important to accelerate breeding by molecular marker - based detection techniques. Aiming at finding the candidate genes for abiotic stress tolerance ,two rice genome sequences of At 354 and Bg 352 varieties given by National Research Council, Sri Lanka -16 -16 project were analyzed. At 354 has some abiotic stress tolerance (salt) traits and Bg 352 has some susceptible traits. Next-generation sequencing-derived genome sequences were used to identify SNPs and Indels in the At 354 and Bg 352 varieties with reference to Oryza sativa japonica group cultivar Nipponbare. The STRING Database was used to extract the most correlated genes with abiotic stress. The allelic differences among Nipponbare, At 354 and Bg 352 sequences were detected from Multiple Sequence Alignment by using the Rice Annotation Project database, UGENE software and MEGA 11 software. The mutations of the genes were validated if they were present in another germplasm in the NCBI database. Altogether 100 genes were used to examine, and 166 mutations were observed including 163 SNPs and 3 Indels while 09 genes were validated due to their presence in other rice accessions. The amino acid sequences of the validated sequences were determined by Expasy Translate tool. The Swiss model database and ProtParam tool were used to predict the protein structures and their parameters, which showed some structural differences among tested alleles. These mutant alleles further need to be assessed against abiotic stress and varietal turnover in order to use them in rice improving breeding programs to be used in abiotic stress-prone ecosystems.
On Ptolemy’s Theorem and Related Derivatives
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Amarasinghe Indika Shameera
Published: February 2024

In this paper an Euclidean Geometric proof is presented for the Ptolemy’s Theorem of cyclic quadrilaterals by using a generalized identity with respect to a cevian of a triangle. Furthermore, a proof for the converse of the Ptolemy’s Theorem is also presented, while adducing some significant applications, new corollaries and lemmas of Ptolemy’s Theorem and its converse.
Increasing Efficiency of Liquid Fertilizer via Incorporating Beneficial Microorganisms
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Wellala Harini Chamathka , Vinushayini Ravichandran ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, Nanotechnology & Science Park, Mahenwatta, Pitipana,  Homagama, Sri Lanka, Herath Lasantha ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology, Nanotechnology & Science Park, Mahenwatta, Pitipana,  Homagama, Sri Lanka, Peiris Colin N ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

The growing trend in organic agriculture has boosted the public awareness of organic fertilizer. The present study focused on isolating plant growth promoting microorganisms from the soil samples and incorporating beneficial plant growth promoting microbial (PGPM) strains to a provided liquid organic fertilizer to improve the efficiency of current formula. After isolating plant growth promoting microorganisms, experiments were conducted qualitatively and quantitatively to evaluate the efficacy of those species. Five phosphorous solubilizing bacteria and fungi, one potassium solubilizing bacteria, one potassium solubilizing fungi, six free living nitrogen fixing bacteria from different regions including Hambanthota, Mahiyanganaya, Galaha, Welimada, Rathnapura Sri Lanka were isolated using serial dilution plating on specific growth media and screened for various plant growth-promoting traits. The highest phosphate solubilization (67.8 mg/ml) was exhibited in PH.1 which also exhibited the highest phosphorous solubilization index (PSI) of 2, isolated from the soil sample received from Hambanthota district. Alginate encapsulation as small beads were produced from bacterial inoculum of PH.1 phosphorous solubilizing bacteria with sodium alginate, cellulose, and calcium chloride. A series of different percentages of cellulose (3% - 6%) was used during bead formation to evaluate the effect of cellulose on encapsulation efficiency of beads. Alginate beads were applied to the liquid fertilizer, incubated, and plated periodically to evaluate the efficiency of this formulation. The number of released cells of PH.1 reached 7.36 X 10 6 CFU/ml after 48 hours of incubation in the 0.25 X diluted liquid fertilizer which resulted from the bead formulation of 4% (w/v) Alginate + 3% (w/v) cellulose. The cellulose supported the entrapment of bacterial cells (plant growth-promoting bacterium) PH.1 as biofertilizer in the matrix, which reduced cell loss. The highest entrapment efficiency of 5.441% was obtained at 3% (w/v) cellulose, Overall, the appropriate content of cellulose mixed with alginate is conducive to changes in the morphology of microcapsules and increases the amount of biological encapsulation. This indicates that the beads-based biofertilizer can partially replace chemical fertilizers.
Evaluation of Antibacterial Activity of Rhinacanthus Species in Sri Lanka
Authors:   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Somaratne Yamuna , Perera Manori ,   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Karunagoda Renuka ,   Wilfrid Laurier University , Canada
Published: February 2024

Rhinacanthus nasutus (L.) Kurz is a valuable medicinal plant belonging to the family Acanthaceae that has many applications in the Ayurvedic system of medicine in Sri Lanka. Rhinacanthus polonnaruwensis Cramer is a more recently discovered species endemic to Sri Lanka, but its medicinal properties have not been recorded so far. The objective of the present study was to screen the antibacterial activity of leaf extracts of R. nasutus and R. polonnaruwensis against clinically isolated Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The study was carried out on six bacterial species, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. saprophyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexi. Polar extracts of R. nasutus and R. polonnaruwensis were obtained by grinding the leaves with sterilized water and boiling the leaves in distilled water to obtain a decoction. A decoction of the concentration of 0.2 ml/ml of R. nasutus inhibited growth of all standard Gram-positive bacteria; Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA, whereas 0.2 ml/ml of decoction of R. polonnaruwensis inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Clinically isolated Staphylococcus saprophyticus was inhibited by both decoctions of Rhinacanthus species. None of the tested concentrations of the two Rhinacanthus species inhibited the growth of any Gram-negative bacteria; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexi. In this study, we demonstrated that the leaf extracts of both R. nasutus and R. polonnaruwensis were effective at inhibiting Gram-positive bacteria. However, the decoction of R. nasutus was found to be more effective against the tested Gram positive bacteria than R. polonnaruwensis.
Testing For Group Differences in Proteomics Data with Left Censored Data and a Limited Sample Size
Authors:   University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Anurangi P.A.L.A , Amaratunga D ,   Princeton Data Analytics LLC, NJ, USA, Viswakula S.D ,   University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

This research study aims to assess how a specific treatment influences the levels of three proteins when left-censored observations are present in a limited sample size. The dataset contained paired data gathered from 20 subjects categorized into 4 groups with increasing dosages, collected before and after administrating the treatment. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate whether there is an increase in response with increasing dosage for each of the proteins. To check the adherence of data to standard distribution, Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) plots were used. To obtain summary statistics, Regression on Order Statistics (ROS), Maximum Likelihood Estimate (MLE) and Kaplan-Meier (KM) methods were utilized. ROS assumed to be the estimate that generally works well for the dataset as KM was unable to estimate the median for highly censored data and MLE produced unrealistic values for mean in some cases. Various matched paired tests were used to assess differences between before treatment and after treatment. The censored sign test, censored sign rank test, Peto Prentice test, and censored paired test all produced consistent conclusions across different alternative hypotheses, confirming higher protein concentrations after treatment. To evaluate mean differences, censored ANOVA, permutation tests, Peto Peto test, and Kruskal Wallis test were employed. No method demonstrated clear superiority over others. Jonckheere Terpstra test revealed the presence of group trend across increasing dosages. Multiple detection limits did not significantly impact the conclusions drawn from the study, and their consideration did not pose additional burdens. In conclusion, the treatment had a significant effect on protein levels, with dose variations influencing the outcome.
Pedagogical Content Knowledge of Geography Teachers in International Schools
Authors:   Colombo International School, Colombo 7, Sri Lanka, Shariffdeen F. Sumaiya
Published: February 2024

One of the primary needs for all geography teachers is to have ample knowledge to convey the subject matter to the learner. This can be achieved if the teacher is thorough in the subject matter, pedagogy and content. The notion that addresses this dichotomy is called pedagogical content knowledge (PCK), which is essential to all teachers. Hence, this study attempts to investigate to what extent geography teachers possess PCK in international schools, especially in middle school, from years 7 to 9. A quantitative research approach was used. The study involved 60 teachers who were selected from thirty international schools in Colombo using the random sample technique representing two teachers from each school. A survey research design was executed, and a questionnaire was administered to collect the data. The findings of the study show that there are many concerns related to subject matter and pedagogical competencies. Even though teachers teach geography, nearly 40% of them have not studied the subject at a degree level. 25% of the teachers possess a master’s degree in Geography and Education. However, only 20% of the teachers own a PGDE. Most teachers have not shown interest in enhancing their professional qualifications. It’s also clearly visible that many teachers are unaware of the learner’s needs and abilities. Hence, the school management should rethink recruiting well-qualified geography teachers and invest more in ongoing training sessions to improve their pedagogical competencies.
Coping amid Crisis: A Study of Field Midwives’ Resilience Strategies during the COVID-19 Pandemic, Sri Lanka
Authors:   University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, Pathirana J. M. P , Edirisinghe N. P ,   University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, Amarasekara T.D ,   University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

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 cross sectional 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 socio demographic 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.
Impact of Mobile Phone Dependence on Social Anxiety among University Students
Authors:   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Lakshika Rekhani , Bulathwatta Asanka
Published: February 2024

Mobile phone dependence is a significant condition that people experience all over the world. Dependence on mobile phones, like any phenomenon related to other technologies, is also related to psychological issues such as anxiety, social isolation, hopelessness, and sleep problems. Thus, this study aimed to figure out the impact of mobile phone dependence on social anxiety among students University of Peradeniya. A snowball sample of 115, 79 female and 36 male participants were selected from the Faculty of Arts. Data was gathered administrating a questionnaire as a google form. Quantitative data was gathered by a self-constructed questionnaire that measures mobile phone dependence and social anxiety was measured by using Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS-SR). The correlational analysis shows that there is a relationship between mobile phone dependence and social anxiety. It shows that dependence, loneliness, anxiety positively correlate with mobile phone dependence. The results show that there is a significant impact of mobile phone dependence on social anxiety among undergraduates. This study expected to have a positive relationship between mobile phone dependence and social anxiety among university students. Results revealed that the variable anxiety contributes the most to social anxiety among university students. In conclusion, university students depend on mobile phones for their academic activities and entertainment. Especially with the Covid-19 pandemic mobile phone dependence behavior of university students may have increased and it might be influencing their social anxiety.
An Analytical Study of the Subject of Education Practice in National Colleges of Education
Authors:   Maharagama NCoE, Maharagama, Welpahala W. A. S. D , Ekanayake Prabhath ,   Maharagama NCoE, Maharagama
Published: February 2024

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.
Forecasting of Constant GDP per capita of Sri Lanka using ARIMA model
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Wijesinghe W.R.A.N.M , Umayangi K.A.S ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, De Silva H.D.K ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Mundigalage S.D.M ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka, Peiris T. S. G ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

GDP per capita is a global measurement for assessing the economic prosperity of nations. Constant (Real) GDP per capita eliminates the effects of inflation which allows for a more accurate comparison of GDP per capita over time. However, no statistical models have been developed to predict annual constant GDP per capita (CGDPC) in Sri Lanka. In this study, ARIMA (1,1,0) model was developed using past data from 1961 to 2018 to forecast CGDPC. The best-fitted model was identified based on three possible models using sample ACF and sample PACF of the stationary series and comparing statistics such as AIC, BIC, maximum log-likelihood, and volatility. The residuals of the fitted model were white noise. The training dataset has percentage errors ranging from -6.50% to 3.80%. The model was validated for observed data in 2019, 2020, and 2021. The percentage error for the three points were -3.49, -6.10, and 1.49 respectively. The forecasted values for 2022, 2023, and 2024 obtained were 4506.728, 4653.895, and 4810.505 respectively showing that Sri Lanka’s economy is expected to grow due to the increase in CGDPC. The GDP per capita growth rates of 2.99%, 3.27%, and 3.37% for the next 3 years also confirm this. The results obtained from this study can be effectively used for better planning. However, it is recommended to improve the model further to reduce the percentage of errors using the ARIMAX approach.
The Workplace Challenges Encountered by Female Academics in Sri Lanka
Authors:   Lincoln University College, Malaysia, Gunathilake Sasankaa
Published: February 2024

Gender equality in academia is a challenge endured globally with the under-representation of females in leadership and decision-making positions. Despite the numerous and diverse efforts taken by the universities to encourage gender equality, women in academia struggle to overcome the challenge of inequality. Around the world, the gendered academic organizational climate as well as the day-to-day interactions cause a major impact not only on female participation within academia but also on how they perceive their future in academic institutions. This research presents the results of a survey conducted with 48 female academics in Sri Lanka attempting to study female academics’ experience with gendered challenges in academia. The research concluded that female academics are challenged in building networks and in reaching their desired career goals. It also revealed that there is a difference in the level of challenges faced by female academics in Sri Lanka depending on their marital status and childcare responsibilities. To prevent the withdrawal of female academics from the field and improve their satisfaction, it is crucial for academic institutions and the relevant authorities to understand the sources of these challenges in academia and implement effective solutions to create a better working environment for women academics in the country.
The Use of Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) Skills in English Language Curricula of Sri Lankan Universities
Authors:   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, Weeraratna J. T , Jayasinghe V. U ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, Wijetunge M. T. N ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka
Published: February 2024

It is a well-known fact that the Sri Lankan graduates and undergraduates are often criticized by the society and specifically by the private sector employers for not possessing required skills such as critical thinking, logical thinking, independent thinking, problem-solving skills and ratiocination skills. Those skills, namely Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency (CALP) skills should be developed among undergraduates in order to be competent employees following graduation. CALP, a theory designed by Jim Cummins (1979) emphasizes the importance of enhancing the above-mentioned higher order skills in the learner. This research attempts to determine if the tertiary level English language curricula in Sri Lanka have given attention in developing the CALP skills among undergraduates. The aim of the research was to find out the focus given on developing CALP skills among Sri Lankan undergraduates at tertiary level, and the objectives were to examine the existing English language curricula of different Sri Lankan universities and to find out the type of skills developed through the existing tertiary level English Language curricula in Sri Lanka. The English language curricula of 6 state universities including 8 faculties were examined in terms of ILOs, course outline (structure) and content. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis. It was found that the English language curricula of state universities in Sri Lanka mainly focus on developing the 4 English language skills in addition to improving vocabulary and presentation skills. They also focus on English for Professional Purposes (EPP) such as medical English, business communication and technical jargon. Developing higher order CALP skills was not a main focus in the majority of ELT curricula in Sri Lanka. However, it is suggested that such skills could be developed through the existing ELT curricula, through systematically designed activities which enhance not only the four language skills, but also CALP skills.