bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report: High-Pressure Chronic Retention (HPCR) of an Elderly Female and Ongoing Care following Permanent Urinary Catheter Placement
Authors:   Post Basic College of Nursing Colombo, Wijayarathne G. H. P. D. S , Kumarasinghe M. S ,   Post Basic College of Nursing Colombo, Dasanayake C. D. K ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT),Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Chronic Urinary Retention is defined as a condition of the urinary bladder in which the residual urine after a normal void exceeds 300ml. High-Pressure Chronic Retention (HPCR) differs from chronic urinary retention with four characteristics as follows, late-onset anuresis, a tense painless palpable bladder, hypertension, and bilateral hydronephrosis with hydroureter which leads to uraemia and death (Goonawardena & Sivapriyan, 2004). A 79-year-old socially active lady has been diagnosed with type II diabetes mellitus, presented with frequency, urinary incontinence, dribbling, and urgency for three years reluctant to seek proper medical assistance by rationalizing her thoughts that this condition was normal with her advanced age. As nurses, it is important to initiate care systematically: addressing the informationseeking behaviour of clients with permanent urinary catheters, encourage them to express their feeling and concerns on this condition, provision of necessary knowledge on the management, care, and long-term follow up on permanent catheterization of patients with HPCR and family. This would relieve patients’ anxiety, and dissatisfaction, and leads to enhance patients’ quality of life during their advanced age. Further, evidence and updated clinical nursing guidelines are needed on long-term care and follow-up for this unique clinical entity of elderly women. Keywords: Elderly female, High-Pressure Chronic Retention, permanent urinary catheter
Identifying Proteins Associated with Disease Severity
Authors:   University of Colombo, Samarawickrama O , Jayatillake R ,   University of Colombo, Amaratunga D ,   Princeton Data Analytics
Published: August 2023

Proteomic studies or studies of protein expression levels are growing swiftly with the steady improvement in technology and knowledge on understanding various anomalies affecting humans. Since differentially expressed proteins have an influence on overall cell functionality, this improves discrimination between healthy and diseased states. Identifying prime proteins offers prospective insights for developing optimized and targeted treatment methods. This research involves analyzing data from an early-stage study whose main purpose was to identify differentially expressed proteins. The presence of 3 progressively serious states of disease (healthy to mild to severe) escalates the importance of this study because there is not much research literature that considers ordinal outcomes in studies of this nature. The analysis can be segregated into 2 stages, univariate and multiprotein analysis. Approach of the univariate analysis was to implement continuation ratio model considering one protein at a time to pick those that exhibits potential ordinality. Penalized continuation ratio model using lasso regularization incorporated with bootstrapping proteins was performed as the next stage to identify protein combinationsthat perform well together. Compound results of the univariate and multi-protein analysis identified 20 most dominant proteins that have the capability to discriminate between the disease states in an ordinal manner satisfactorily. Keywords: Proteomic studies; Ordinal nature; Trend tests; Lasso regularization; Bootstrapping
Perceived Stress Level and Associated Factors among Allied Health Science Undergraduates in University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Wijedasa Hiranga
Published: August 2023

A cross sectional descriptive study was carried out to determine the level of stress and its associated factors among Allied Health Science undergraduates in University of Sri Jayewardenepura. A convenient sample of 150 Allied Health Science undergraduates who follow Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N), Bachelor of Pharmacy (B. Pharm) and Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science (B.Sc. MLS) degree programmes were selected as the study sample. A self-administered questionnaire with both open ended and closeended questions was used as the research tool. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) developed by Cohen et al. (1994) was used to evaluate students’ perceived level of stress(PLS) during the last month. Irrespective of the year of study, B.Sc. Nursing undergraduates have scored higher level of perceived level of stress which is statistically significant in a chi-square test when comparing with B. Pharm and B.Sc. MLS undergraduates. Perceived level of stress had no significant association with sociodemographic factors including sex. Increased academic work load and financial difficulties were the prioritized factors associated with stress. The lack of personal freedom, conflicts with colleagues, unsupportive staff at the clinical placement and lack of support services were also reported as the other factors associated with the level of perceived stress among undergraduates. Keywords: Perceived Stress; Allied health Undergraduates; Associated factors
The Use of Audio and Audio-visual Materials for Teaching Process Descriptions and Identification of Errors: A Study with Tertiary Level Students
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Malabe, Sri Lanka., Wijesuriya K.G , Dissanayake D.M.M.S ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Malabe, Sri Lanka.
Published: August 2023

The use of multimedia as a teaching aid could motivate students in learning and improve their writing skills. The objectives of the study are to assess the impact of audio-visual and audio materials in the lesson on second language learners’ writing skills and to analyse errors in the writings. Forty Engineering undergraduates in their first term at CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) B1 level in proficiency were randomly divided into two comparison groups: Audio-visual Group and Audio Group; to teach them to write a brief description of an industrial process using Audio-visual and Audio materials. The marks of the immediate and post-tests were analysed using independent sample t-test whereas errors in their writings were categorized based on Surface Strategy Taxonomy. The findings depicted that both Audio-visual and Audio materials have contributed to writing effective process descriptions. While the mean of the Audio group was numerically higher than that of the Audio-visual group in both immediate and posttests, the independent sample t-test confirmed that the difference was not statistically significant. Neither of the modes has been demonstrated superior to the other. Moreover, error analysis based on Surface Structure Taxonomy depicted that over 50% of errors committed by students in both groups were errors of Misformation. Further, second, third and the fourth frequent number of errors were found in the Omission category, Misordering Category, and Addition category respectively for both groups. Therefore, a mixture of Audio-visual and Audio materials could be recommended in writing tasks pertaining to process descriptions. Keywords: Audio Material; Audio-Visual Material; Process Descriptions; Surface Strategy Taxonomy
Current Status and Challenges in Using Plant-Food Waste in the Cosmetic Industry – A Case Study in the Sri Lankan Context
Authors: Thilakarathne M.A.P.K , Wijerathne W.D.C.C
Published: August 2023

The majority of contemporary research has focused on the cosmetic application in fresh plant materials but there is a lack of critical analyses on the potential of plant waste material for the cosmetic industry. In this regard, this study was conducted with aid the literature from the 2000-2022 period. Accordingly, we can conclude that the nonedible plant materials such as seeds and peels and food wastes contain a significant number of phytochemicals which are the key ingredient of natural cosmetic products, and low-cost as well as non-toxic ingredients for cosmetic products. But using food waste can be challenging since plants are biodegradable, before using for cosmetics it should be tested for any microorganism activity which can affect the skin as well. Then availability and collection of waste such as soaked water, seeds, and peels will be difficult since first of all it has to be consumed in the food used in the cosmetic industry. However, the analysis result of the phytochemical content of plant waste has shown a significant value in the cosmetic industry due to their anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity, anti-tyrosinase, and elastase activity for the skin.
Effects of Coconut Water on Micropropagation of Caladium Bicolour Cv ’Thai Beauty’
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Ratnayake Raveena D , Peiris Sriyani E ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Malwattage Gayani ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT),Sri Lanka, Peiris Colin N ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT),Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Caladium bicolour (Aiton) Vent. is an attractive commercial ornamental plant in the horticulture industry which is popular as potted plants for homescaping and as garden plants for landscaping. Propagation of this attractive plant through micropropagation has more benefits than conventional propagation. The current study describes an in vitro multiplication of Caladium bicolour cv ‘Thai Beauty’ with coconut water as a supplement. Shoots derived from leaf explants were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/L (6- Benzylaminopurine) with and without 120 mL/L of coconut water. The results showed that coconut water (CW) with 0.5 and 1.5 mg/L BAP in the medium increased caladium shoot multiplication having an average of 6.67 and 7.75 shoots /shoot, respectively, with a large number of high-quality shoots. Coconut water alone in the medium also produced average of 3.42 shoots/ shoot. Hence, the current protocol provides a direct, cost-effective mass propagation method for large-scale commercial cultivation of caladium. Keywords: Caladium; Micropropagation; Coconut water; 6-benzylaminopurine
Factors Affecting Corona Deaths in Sri Lanka: Time Series Modeling Approach
Authors: Wathsala W.A.D.R , Peiris T. S. G ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Whole world has been affected by COVID-19 Pandemic which kills people on a large scale. Identifying, controlling and taking preventive actions for the factors that cause such deaths is crucial. This work intends to investigate the factors affecting COVID-19 deaths reported in Sri Lanka, during the period of 2020 to 2021 by using Vector Auto Regressive model. The empirical results of the model indicated the factors that significantly affected COVID-19 deaths short term as well as long term. Short term, factors such as increase in reported new cases in the previous day, positive number of test results, additional hours per day spent at residence compared to the median value of duration stayed at residence from 3rd January to 6th February 2020(difference between the actual hours and median hours spent at residence has been considered), number of new visitors to outdoor places and a decrease in previous day’s deaths. In a long term forecast, variables such as reproduction rate, new vaccination doses, stringency index, additional time spent at residence, new users of public transport, new users of retail and recreation and new visitors to outdoor spaces significantly influence on the mortality. The Granger Causality test confirmed the past values of new cases and positive number of tests have a predictive ability in determining the present values of deaths. On the other hand, the Variance Decomposition method indicated that the variation in deaths in short term is due to deaths itself. Keywords: COVID-19, Modeling deaths, Stepwise procedure, Stringency Index
Prosecuting Sexual Bribery in Sri Lanka: A study on Sexual Bribery and ‘Consent’ of the Victim
Authors:   Liverpool John Moores University, UK, Rathnayake Kamini
Published: August 2023

The ability to prosecute Sexual Bribery (SB) in Sri Lanka (SL) is owed to statutory interpretation. However, SB of only public servants is considered bribery, whereas SB of private sector employees is considered as a sexual offence, thus entirely misrepresenting the gravity of the offence. While it is vital to address this discrepancy, it is equally important to classify SB under bribery and corruption. International review and research suggest the concept of ‘coerced consent’ to tackle the issues of prosecuting SB under laws for sexual offences. This study analyses that until SL amends its laws to expressly criminalise SB, in both public and private sectors, statutory interpretation of ‘coerced consent’ being incorporated into the legal system of SL seems a promising means to resolve this. Keywords: Sexual Bribery; Sextortion; Coerced Consent; Bribery and Corruption; Bribery Act
Modeling and Forecasting of the Weekly Incidence of Dengue in Colombo District of Sri Lanka
Authors:   Teaching Hospital, Nagoda, Kalutara, Arachchi K. A. N. L. K , Peiris T. S. G ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

This study was designed to develop a time series model for the weekly incidence of dengue in the Colombo district of Sri Lanka. Weekly occurrence of dengue fever counts from January 2015 to August 2020 in the Epidemiological Report by the Ministry of Health was used for the study . ARIMA (2,1,0) with the addition of AR (16) was identified as the most effective model. The model was trained using data from January 2015 to December 2019. The balance data was used to validate the model. The residuals of the model satisfied the randomness and constant variance, but the residuals significantly deviated from the normality. The results showed that the forecasted figures were consistent with the observed series. However, a noticeable percentage error was observed sequentially in the late 2020s. Those errors could be attributable to the fact that there was an underreporting of dengue fever cases due to social and operational shocks of the Covid-19 Pandemic. Keywords: ARIMA, Dengue, Time series analysis
Satisfaction Level and Quality of Life of patients Living with Split-Thickness Skin Graft, Following a Burn Injury in Burns Unit of the National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Authors:   National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka, Rajaguru Sirini Chamika , Gunawardana Ruwan Thushara ,   National Hospital, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Burn is one form of traumatic injury and also a global public health problem. A high prevalence of burn injury rate is reported in low and middle-income countries and African and south-east Asian countries. The study aimed to describe the satisfaction and quality of life of patients with split-thickness skin grafts. A mixed method was used to conduct the study and the data were collected from post-split thickness skin graft patients, who participated in the Burn Clinic in the National Hospital, Sri Lanka. A descriptive cross-sectional research design and a simple random sample (n=109) of burn victims was selected to conduct the quantitative survey. The qualitative phase was conducted through in-depth interviews and using a purposive sample. Data were analyzed by using SPSS Version 20 and the thematic analysis method. Many of the burn victims’ age ranges were 18-24 years (24.8%). The majority 61.5% were married. Each sub-domains of the SF36 is divided into physical and mental health According to the chi-square test. There was a positive association between physical health and mental health (0.001). Assessed mean value of the SF36 Scale by used total sum of the questionnaire. It called “Average Mean” of the study (Mean=54.29; High QOL >54.29; Low QOL< 54.29). Finally, the quality of life was measured by using that average mean results of that, the post -split-thickness skin graft patients had high scores of quality of life 57 (52.3%, Mean> 54.29). Next thematic analysis in the qualitative phase identified three themes. They are: ‘satisfied with ‘new skin’, ‘living with split-thickness skin grafts’ and ‘are willing to participate in future activities’. Also, the qualitative results supported the quantitative findings. The conclusion of the findings revealed that quality of life was compromised in the majority of post-burn patients. But after facing split thickness graft surgery most victims reported a high quality of life and high satisfaction level than others. Keywords: QOL; Split Thickness Skin Graft; Short Form health survey 36
Correlates of Severe Pain: Descriptive Study among Patients with Cancer in Sri Lanka
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Edirisinghe NP , Makuloluwa PTR ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka, Amarasekara AATD ,   University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka, Goonewardena CSE ,   University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

The most prevalent and unpleasant symptom that cancer patients encounter is pain. Pain is a highly subjective feeling resulting from the intricate interaction of bio-psycho-social aspects of the individual. The study aims to describe the correlates of severe pain in cancer patients in Sri Lanka. Methods: The descriptive study involved 384 cancer patients from Apeksha Hospital, Maharagama. Patients over 18 years who experienced cancer pain for three months or more, related to the primary lesion, secondary lesions, radiation, or chemotherapy were eligible. Patients whose pain is due to a non-cancerous source, triggered under three months of the assessment, and those who are too frail or disoriented with evidence of brain metastases are either unable or unwilling to give informed consent were excluded. The patients fulfilling inclusion criteria were recruited using the consecutive sampling method. The correlates of severe pain were determined using logistic regression A validated Sinhala version of the Short Form Brief Pain Inventory and a pre-tested socio-demographic questionnaire was used to collect data. The correlates of severe pain were determined using logistic regression. Statistically significant correlation was shown between severe pain and ‘male gender’, (AOR=1.723; p=0.035); ‘being in marriage’ (AOR =1.947; p=0.026); ‘patients with no perceived family commitments’ (AOR=1.8; p=0.013) and pain of three months or more duration (AOR = 1.76; p=0.021). In conclusion it is discovered that the severe pain is positively correlated with males, ‘being in a marriage,’ ‘no perceived family commitments, and in pain for over a three months duration. Keywords: Cancer pain; associated factors; correlates; Sri Lanka
Exact Solution for the Upper Minimal Total Cost Bound of Multi-Supplier Single-Buyer Interval Transportation Problem
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Gamage Jayani
Published: August 2023

Transporting a commodity from sources to destinations with minimal transportation cost is the main goal in all industries. In the literature, researchers have given considerable attention to find the total minimum transportation cost in fixed supply and fixed demand quantities. However, in the real-world supply, demand values will vary in a certain range due to the variation of the global economy. The number of combinations of supplies and demands rapidly increase in their respective ranges as the number of suppliers and buyers increases. To make better decisions on investments, it is useful to know the lower and the upper bounds of the minimal total costs in the interval transportation problem (ITP). However, no exact solution has been identified to obtain the upper bound of minimal transportation cost. In this research, a new algorithm has been developed to determine all the choices of supplies and demands in multi-supplier singlebuyer transportation problems. Based on the new method, the minimum transportation cost can be found for each combination that satisfies the fundamental theory of transportation problem (total supplies value ≥ demand value). Furthermore, the maximum cost as the upper minimal total cost bound can also be obtained. The new methodology is illustrated using real data. It is also shown that the proposed method is able to obtain the exact solution for the upper minimal total cost bound of multi-supplier single-buyer ITP. Keywords: Demand and Supply; Transportation problem; Transportation cost; Total cost bound
Right to Information vs. Right to Protect Personal Data: A Guidance from the Decisions of the USA & the European Court of Justice.
Authors:   The Open University of Sri Lanka, Rajapakse R.L.W
Published: August 2023

Right to Information (RTI) and right to privacy (RTP) are two basic rights of people in a democratic country. Since personal data consists of a main element of privacy, the right not to disclose one's personal data to a third party is an essential part of the RTP. The citizens of Sri Lanka have had the right of obtaining information that is in the custody of public authorities since 2017 under the RTI Act. When deciding whether requested information will be disclosed or not, the public authority will have to consider the exceptions stipulated in the said Act, including the exception of privacy. However, with the enactment of the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Act in 2022 in Sri Lanka, it is crucial to consider the impact of the said Act on the RTI Act. Under the above context, this research explored the overlapping provisions of these two legislations and the decisions of the USA & the European Court of Justice in similar matters. This research study utilized the qualitative methodology where the researcher 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 PDP Act has put the additional liability on the public authorities when considering information requests under the RTI Act. Further, the research has identified some guidance from the decided cases of the USA & the European Court of Justice regarding overlapping provisions. Keywords: Right to information; right to privacy; personal data protection; public authorities.
The Legal Debate on the Commercial Use of Personal Data - A Discussion of the Eu Gdpr Precedent
Authors:   Horizon Campus, Senanayake H. R. Chiranthi
Published: August 2023

Although the adoption of the Personal Data Protection Act No. 9 of 2022 in Sri Lanka marked a significant milestone in the commercial use of personal data, the regulation of data use is often debated among international policymakers due to the inherent controversy of the subject. This is especially seen in the European Union (EU) which has a stringent data protection scheme. In light of this legal debate, the discussion in this study centres around the key concern of appropriate regulation and balancing between two competing rights, namely, the freedom to commercially utilise user data in the digital economy, and the protection of the right to privacy and protection from unlawful processing of personal data of the consumer/user. Such an academic conversation is engaged in by deliberating on the legal implications of commercial use of personal data. To this end, the essay will first examine the existing legal systems for commercially processing personal data with specific attention to the European Union (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of 2016 and the associated case law. Next, the essay will discuss three concerns on the present protectionist trajectory of the law, and its impact on the dual role of the law in the digital economy, i.e. as a facilitator of lawful commercial use of personal data and a guardian of privacy rights of data subjects. Thereafter, the essay will discuss three concerns on the present protectionist trajectory of the law, and its impact on the dual role of the law in the digital economy, i.e., as a facilitator of lawful commercial use of personal data and as a guardian of privacy rights of data subjects. The legal analysis is centralised on the EU personal data protection regime because it is a microcosm of development in general data protection law, which is widely accepted as a global persuasive precedent on the regulation of transnational commercial use of personal data. Keywords: Legal debate, personal data, Eu Gdpr Precedent.
An Exploratory Study on Work Stress and Job Satisfaction during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Hotel Sector Employees of Sri Lanka
Authors:   Liverpool John Moores University, UK, Miles Ebony M.A. Bradie , Donmanige Iresha Chamindi ,   University of Wollongong, Australia
Published: August 2023

COVID-19 has affected employees worldwide, especially in the hotel industry, with restricted travel, limited incoming flights, and guests, which presents challenges for hotels and employees. Therefore, it is essential to investigate how COVID-19 has affected hotel employees' job satisfaction and work stress. This study aimed to determine whether the stress at work generated by COVID-19 directly affects the job satisfaction of hotel employees in Sri Lanka. The researcher recruited hotel employees in Sri Lanka through purposive sampling following a selective criterion; 18 years or older, locally employed, with two or more years of industry experience. The researcher, part of a larger mixed-method project, presented the qualitative findings in this article, using a qualitative research design with semi-structured interviews to collect employee responses (N = 7) before subjecting the responses to content analysis. Ultimately, the main findings indicated that work stress generated by COVID-19 partially impacted the job satisfaction of Sri Lankan hotel employees. Other factors reported included COVID-related financial issues and procedural changes that significantly affected employees. Several solutions presented in the findings to improve job satisfaction and work stress during COVID19 included effective financial management by hotels, and extra support, for example, counselling and improved workplace communication. Overall, the satisfaction of Sri Lanka’s hotel workers' jobs has been affected by work stress and partially by COVID-19. Therefore, future research should explore the influences of COVID-19 on job satisfaction and work stress among Sri Lankan hotel employees and throughout the world. Keywords: COVID-19; Work stress; Job satisfaction; Hotel employees; Sri Lanka
Trajectory of Learning Academic Vocabulary: IT Undergraduates’ Vocabulary Learning Strategies and Performance at the Exam
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Kalinga Jayathri
Published: August 2023

Learning vocabulary is an integral part in language acquisition and acquisition of academic vocabulary is crucial for the success in an academic context. Therefore, many studies have been conducted to formulate academic vocabulary lists and identify vocabulary learning strategies. This study seeks to explore the vocabulary learning strategies employed by IT undergraduates when studying academic vocabulary and to examine their performance on the academic vocabulary related questions at the formative exam. The sample of the study includes 276 first year IT undergraduates who follow the module English for Academic Purposes. A questionnaire is used as the research tool to obtain data from the sample and the result of the formative exam is used to examine the performance related to academic vocabulary. According to the data analysis, most of the students often use either monolingual or bilingual dictionary as a strategy to discover the meaning of a new word. This is more emphasized as they have mentioned that they prefer using dictionary apps as a strategy to learn vocabulary online. A significant number of students study the spelling, meaning and form of a word and ask for help from their friends as strategies for consolidating a new word they encounter. However, when comparing the marks obtained for the vocabulary related questions at the exam, it is noted that the students have obtained less marks to the question in which they had to replace the underlined word/phrases with a more academic alternative. Thus, students need to adapt more effective strategies to acquire mastery of academic vocabulary. Keywords: Academic vocabulary, Vocabulary learning strategies, IT undergraduates, formative assessment
Violation of Human Dignity through Online Harassment: A Case for Stronger Protection of Privacy in Sri Lanka
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Harasgama Kushanthi , Jayamaha Samurdhi ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Human dignity, a concept widely discussed philosophical, political and legal spheres, has gained importance with its recognition under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as a foundation of human rights. Dignity is understood to be inherent in humans. Scholars observe dignity to be twofold; firstly, dignity by reason of humans having the capacity to rationalize and secondly humans as social animals having a sense of self-worth and social standing. Human Dignity, therefore, is universally recognized so as human rights in general. On the contrary, Privacy is just another right and does not command a wide and equal standing in every society. Privacy relates to the personal space; be it bodily, informational, territorial or communicational within which a person expects to be free from scrutiny. Privacy refers to the limit to which one desires to expose himself to others. It is understood that privacy is one element which contributes to the notion of dignity. Privacy violations will therefore lead to the degradation of human dignity. This is illustrated in cases of online harassment as publication of intimate, sexually explicit video/images of individuals, impersonating victims, and defaming or insulting victims in public categorically invade the privacy of individuals thus violating their human dignity. Sri Lanka has a piecemeal approach to protecting privacy, which is scattered around various statutes and case law, and is of limited scope. Upholding dignity, therefore, is challenged although the Sri Lankan Constitution and case law identify dignity as foundational. Hence, it is argued that a state which is concerned with upholding the dignity of its citizens should be equally concerned about protecting the privacy of those citizens. Keywords: Human dignity, right to privacy, online harassment
Attitude of Police Officers towards Dealing with Individuals with Psychological Problems: A Sample from Selected Police Stations in Colombo District
Authors:   Kaatsu International for Undergraduate Studies, Battaramulla, Tennakoon Leila , Ponnamperuma Lakmal ,   National Child Protection Authority
Published: August 2023

Sri Lanka’s Mental Diseases Ordinance (1873) gives discretion to police officers to make decisions concerning individuals who live with mental health conditions despite lack of clinical training. Identification of officers’ attitudes towards individuals with psychological problems (IPPs) is important as these influences officers’ responses to situations involving IPPs. Using the Mental Health Attitude Survey for Police (MHASP; Clayfield, 2011), the study aimed to identify police officers’ attitudes towards IPPs, on the community responsibility towards IPPs and on IPPs living in the community. Officers’ perceived level of adequacy to deal with IPPs was also assessed. Literature indicates that factors such as age, gender, level of education, years of experience, personal experience with an IPP and past training predicted officers’ attitude, the current study investigated the same. The survey was distributed amongst 77 officers who volunteered on site. MHASP includes 33 statements of officers rated their level of agreement using a Likert scale. MHASP Total an overall attitude score (M=132.67, SD=17.55) indicated a significant positive attitude towards IPPs despite an absence of a specialized training (84%) or any personal experience, officers felt confident to deal with IPPs. Multiple regression analysis identified gender of the officers to be the only predictor for attitude towards community responsibility towards IPPs (p=0.047). Despite the positive attitude and perceived adequate preparedness reported in the current study, considering the lack of experience stated by the officers and the analysis of individual items of the survey, several stigmatizing beliefs held by officers were identified. The findings can be used to enhance the current practices and specialized training to the police officers who deal with IPPs in Sri Lanka. Keywords: Police; law enforcement; attitude; mental health; psychological problems
A Study on Mindfulness among the Prospective Teachers
Authors:   Department of Education, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India, Bhuvaneswari M.S , Jayanthy A. Catherin ,   Department of Education, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
Published: August 2023

Mindfulness is an emotional well-being, relative freedom from anxiety and disabling symptoms, and a capacity to establish constructive relations and cope with ordinary demands and stress of life. Mental hygiene is to save man from complexes and inner conflicts and to prepare him for such a living in which his natural diseases and social beliefs are properly adjusted and he may develop the capacity of facing complex situations as well. Mental sickness and for their convenience, the science of Mindfulness and facilities for psychology and treatment have been developed. There is no significant difference between Prospective teachers Male and Female in their Mindfulness, with reference to the dimensions of Realistic perception, Autonomy, and Environmental mastery. Keywords: Health, Teachers, Mindfulness, and Prospective Teachers
Shift in the Sri Lankan ESL Classroom – An Experiment with Mobile Assisted Language Learning
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka, Amaraweera Sankaja
Published: August 2023

The young generation of the contemporary world is depended on the omnipresent smart devices Yu (2012). Their advancement has created a range of additional benefits and new means of learning (Chan, 2016). The use of mobile applications for various purposes is commonly experienced in the Sri Lankan context as well. Although frequently used in written and oral discourses, phrasal verbs are subject to be excluded if the correct use of them is challenging for the English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. Therefore, this research intends to inspect the efficacy of teaching Phrasal Verbs via one of the common mobile applications, since it is prevalent in the society. In this empirical study, thirty undergraduates were selected. Pre and post tests were included in it and forty popularly used Phrasal Verbs are used. For the Pre-test, any instructions on Phrasal verbs were not given, but for the Post-test instructions were given. Traditional classroom instructions were given to the controlled group within one hour and the experimental group was guided via the selected mobile application. The results of both the tests were analysed and found that the experimental group outperformed in the Posttest than the other group indicating that the use of mobile applications in the process of teaching English language is an effective resource in instructing on phrasal verbs. Keywords: Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL); Phrasal Verbs; English Language Teaching (ELT); Mobile Learning
Mediation and the Myth of Enforceability
Authors: Gunathilaka W A Saranee Wasana , Jayamaha Samurdhi ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), Sri Lanka
Published: August 2023

Mediation is a trending alternative dispute resolution mechanism despite some of its alleged shortcomings. One such is that the mediated outcome lacks enforceability, which is not the case in real life. Whereas various jurisdictions have expressly dealt with this alleged issue, in the absence of any explicit provision for the same, a mediation settlement agreement could also be enforced in a Court of law, by treating it as a regular contract. The presence of the highest form of autonomy in the mediation process makes its settlement agreement qualified at the outset to be considered as a contract. More pertinently, offer; acceptance; consideration; intention to create a legally binding relationship; legality and capacity as fundamental requisites of a legally enforceable contract is often seen to be present in a mediation settlement agreement, thus allowing it to be enforceable as a contract between the parties who have freely entered into such agreement to settle their dispute. It is therefore accurate to conclude that the unenforceability of a mediated outcome is a myth even where there is no specific provision to that effect. Keywords: Mediation, Mediated Settlement Agreements, Enforcement of Mediated Settlement Agreements, Contracts and settlement agreements
Envisioning Biocentrism in the Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable
Authors:   Mercy College, Palakkad, Kerala, India, Shyamala Dr. C.G
Published: August 2023

For several decades, ecological concerns have been addressed in several academic political, and social forums and the rounds of discussions seem irresolute in arriving at a conclusive decision about curbing environmental degradation. Literary expressions have echoed geo-political, socio-economic, religious and cultural concerns to raise consciousness on a plethora of aspects related to interconnectivities framed and formed. In this context, the relationship of artists, and litterateurs to the environment is significant in that it calls for reconsiderations, reflections and responses that posit the need for connectivity to collectively address pertinent issues. This paper argues that Amitav Ghosh, in The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable (2016) advocates a biocentric vision of the universe and he interrogates the efficacy of political, social and economic policies framed globally that have been neither eco-friendly nor triggered the environmental cause, and these predict the Anthropocene. Moreover, the role of writers is insubstantial to contribute to the protection of the environment. While pointing out to this grave lacuna within academia, he also calls for a substantive move to address not only this shortcoming but also garner the efforts of leaders, policy makers, businessmen and scientists. The endeavour should be to dive into the nadir of the factors that accelerate the rate at which the destruction of the environment is taking place for fear that the proposition may be deferred. Keywords: biocentric, anthropocene, environmental degradation, skepticism, connectivity, lacuna
A study on consumer satisfaction toward Bykea e-bike services
Authors:   SBA, Department of Business Administration, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sindh, Pakistan, Hussain Zahid , Ahmed Nabeel ,   SBA, Department of Business Administration, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University, Sindh, Pakistan, Ali Aftab ,   SBA, Department of Information Technology, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, Sindh, Pakistan
Published: August 2023

This study’s goal is to find out how satisfied customers are with Bykea. The current study employed a quantitative approach to examine user satisfaction with Bykea e-bike services. Questionnaires were used to gather the information. This study also tries to identify the crucial elements—such as age, gender, and different payment methods—that influence how consumers behave toward Bykea e-bike services. According to the study’s findings, the majority of customers are happy with Bykea’s e-bike services, but there are some drawbacks, including price increases and issues with the product’s design. If required, it will take a lot of work to keep Bykea’s e-bike customers. If the business can comprehend the customer’s desire and general perception, it can build a marketing plan. The results may thus be applied by marketers to create a marketing plan and increase the market share of Bykea bike services.
Role and Importance of Computational Statistics in Machine Learning
Authors: Kulkarni Rahul
Published: August 2023

Computational statistics plays a crucial role in the field of machine learning by providing robust and efficient methods for data analysis and model inference. In this abstract, we explore the intersection of computational statistics and machine learning, highlighting the key contributions and advancements in this rapidly evolving field. We begin by discussing the fundamental principles of computational statistics, emphasizing the importance of statistical modeling, inference, and optimization. These principles form the backbone of machine learning algorithms, enabling data-driven decision making and predictive modeling. Next, we delve into the challenges and complexities associated with applying computational statistics techniques. These challenges include handling high-dimensional data, dealing with large-scale datasets, and over fitting. Various approaches, such as regularization, dimensionality reduction, and scalable algorithms, are explored as solutions to these challenges. Keywords—computational statistics, machine learning, data, decision making, optimization.
Resume Screening using Machine Learning
Authors: Patel Mehul
Published: August 2023

Abstract–The rapid advancement of the technology field has ushered in a wave of employment opportunities across various sectors, necessitating organizations to efficiently sift through a multitude of resumes to identify the most suitable candidates for their specific job requirements. To address this challenge, we propose a research paper that presents a systematic approach to effectively sorting resumes based on company-specific requirements, enabling the identification of the most qualified candidates for specific job roles. This research paper introduces a cutting-edge solution that harnesses state-of-the-art technologies, including Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (NLP), in conjunction with cosine similarity. A model has been developed to recognize keywords and extract pertinent information from job requirements provided by recruiting companies. To train this model, a comprehensive database of diverse resumes from various fields has been employed. The model is trained to exclusively search for keywords or requirements specified by the recruiting company, thereby sorting the resumes, accordingly, accepting those that align with the specified criteria, and dismissing those that fall short. The entire process is designed to optimize efficiency and streamline the candidate selection process. Keywords: Natural language processing, Cosine Similarity, Tfidfvectorizer.
Outcome of Neer Type 3 & 4 Fractures of Humeral Head Treated with Proximal Humerus Internal Locking System (PHILOS) Plate Osteosynthesis
Authors:   The Children’s Hospital, Faisalabad, Pakistan., Ijaz Amoluk
Published: August 2023

Objective: To assess the outcome of Neer type 3 and 4 fractures of humeral head treated with Proximal Humerus Internal Locking System (PHILOS) plating. Study Design: Descriptive case series. Place and Duration: This study was conducted in The Department of Orthopaedics and Spine Surgery, Lahore General Hospital, Postgraduate Medical Institute, Lahore Pakistan from 1st September 2020 to 30th March 2022. Methodology: A total of 30 patients aged between 18-60 years presenting with displaced three and four parts fractures of proximal humerus were analyzed. At the time of enrollment, demographic data was noted and medical history was taken. All fractures were classified with the help of plain radiographs. All patients underwent PHILOS Plate osteosynthesis as per standard surgical approach. The patients were followed up till 6-months. Final outcomes were labeled in terms of total constant score and functional outcome. Results: In a total of 30 cases, 73.3% were male while overall mean age was 36.73±12.85 years. There were 56.7% patients who had road traffic accident and 36.7% reported fall from height and 6.7% patients had physical assault (hit by bull). The mean duration of surgical procedure was 59.57±19.39 minutes while the mean duration of hospitalization was 5.50±2.17 days. The mean constant score was 72.76±12.25. The functional outcome of patients after 6 months were excellent in 10.0% patients, good 40.0% and 50.0% had fair outcome. There were 93.3% patients who had grade-1 union and 6.7% had grade-2 union after 6 months of follow up. Conclusion: Very acceptable functional outcomes with PHILOS plating were found in Neer type 3 and 4 fractures of humeral head. Early mobilization of shoulder can be achieved without any compromise in fracture union with six months follow and there was no avascular necrosis. Keywords: Accidents, Hospitalization, Humerus, Necrosis, Shoulder, Surgical Procedures, Proximal Humerus Internal Locking System (PHILOS) Plating How to Cite This: Ijaz A, Basit MA, Hussain R, shakeel M, Hanif M. Outcome of Neer Type 3 & 4 Fractures of Humeral Head Treated with Proximal Humerus Internal Locking System (PHILOS) Plate Osteosynthesis. Isra Med J. 2023; 14(4): 139-142. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55282/imj.oa1349
Correlation and Impact of workshops on Basic Life Support (BLS) with the Knowledge of Participants
Authors:   Fazaia Medical College Islamabad, Hashim Rizwan
Published: August 2023

Objective: To determine the Importance of workshops on Basic Life Support. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration: Study was conducted at the Department of Pathology, Fazaia Medical College from Nov 25th 2022 to March 1st 2023. Methodology: To determine and evaluate the knowledge of the participants before and after the training, they were asked ten questions about Basic Life Support. The survey was conducted among the health education department of Fazaia Medical College, Islamabad. Same questions were asked before the workshop and after workshop. Afterwards, the percentages of correct answers were calculated and subsequently, paired t test was applied to determine any improvement in participant knowledge for Basic Life Support. The answers were compared and the final results were concluded. Results: Work shop improved the knowledge of the participants about Basic Life Support by 27%. Conclusion: BLS workshop increased the knowledge and learning of the participants. Keywords: Basic Life Support, Workshops, Training, Medical, Health Education. How to Cite This: Hashim R, Waseem H, Hashim S, Niazi A, Shahid S, Khadija S. Correlation and impact of workshops on Basic Life Support (BLS) with the knowledge of participants. Isra Med J. 2023; 14(4): 148-151. DOI: https://doi.org/10.55282/imj.oa1374.