bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Performance Improvement of Crossflow Air Turbines for Wave Energy Conversion in Oscillating Water Columns: A CFD Study
Authors:   National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Republic of Korea, Baddegamage B.H.B.P.D , Lee Young Ho ,   National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan , Republic of Korea, Gunawardane S.D.G.S.P ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Yoon Min ,   National Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan, Republic of Korea
Published: November 2024

The coastal countries have a valuable renewable energy source in the form of ocean waves, which, if harnessed effectively using wave energy converters (WEC), could significantly enhance their electrical energy supply. Numerous technologies have been researched, put forth, examined, and sometimes tested in real ocean conditions at full scale. One of the most promising WECs is the oscillating water column (OWC), which has a modest number of moving parts that are all above the water level with a relatively simple mechanism. Although the Wells turbine is a widely used power takeoff (PTO) system of OWC, having higher peak efficiency than the crossflow air turbine (CFAT), it shows a narrow operational flow range. This operational flow range issue could be addressed by deploying CFATs. Only a few researches have been conducted on the CFAT as the PTO for OWCs. The present study focuses on numerical model-building and validation using the available experimental data to investigate the performance characteristics for optimized nozzle shapes for CFAT. For the base model, numerical results are compared to experimental data for validation. The geometry of the nozzle is optimized to achieve maximum efficiency under steady-state conditions. The nozzle entry arc angle is varied between 90° to 150°. The optimized model reached a peak efficiency of 68% with a steady high efficiency for broader operating conditions (broader flow range). Therefore, the proposed design addresses the issue of the narrow band of the Wells turbine while potentially improving the efficiency of the existing CFAT model. Keywords: Crossflow air turbine, Wave energy converter, Oscillating water column, Computational fluid dynamics, Wave energy
Investigation of the Stability of Embankments on Soft Soil Deposits
Authors:   Department of Civil Engineering, SLIIT, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Robinson C.F , Thilakarathne T.M.D ,   Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, Thilakasiri H.S ,   Department of Civil Engineering, SLIIT, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

In geotechnical engineering, the stability of embankments built on soft soil deposits is crucial because low shear strength, high compressibility, and high-water content in soft soils make them vulnerable to lateral spreading, settlements, and slope failures. There are several ground improvement methods that have been utilized to improve ground stability. However, it is essential to investigate the stability of the embankment that has been constructed on soft soils even if ground improvement techniques have been adopted. This research mainly focuses on investigating the stability of the embankment sections that have failed in Colombo-Katunayake Expressway project, which has already adopted stone column installation as a major ground improvement technique. This research has focused on three primary failing sections, which are K6 + 230 – 320, K7 + 890 – 980, and PK1 + 700 – 800. To investigate the stability of the failed sections of Colombo-Katunayake Expressway project, observational approach methods have been used instead of stability analysis or other numerical methods. The observational approach methods this research focuses on include the construction control diagram developed by Matsuo and Kawamura and the construction control chart developed from an instrumented trial embankment on soft ground at Tokai, Kedah, Malaysia. These observational approach methods have included fill height, lateral displacement, and vertical settlement as essential observed metrics. Additionally, certain successful portions of the CKE project have been plotted using both observational approach methods to make sure the curves produced make a truthful statement and to apply these techniques to the construction of embankments in the future. By the use of the observational approach methods, the most suitable method that can be used to identify and control the stability of the embankment has been selected. Keywords: Embankment stability, observational approach, soft soils, construction control chart.
Analysis of Efficiency and The Adsorption Nature of Malachite Green Dye from an Aqueous Solution on activated Carbon Generated from Strychnos potatorum (Ingini) seeds
Authors:   Department of Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, Buthpitiya B.L.S.K , Mathota Arachchige Yohan L. N ,   Department of Chemistry, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Malachite green (MG) is a basic dye with an amino group which is water soluble. This is a higher brilliance dye even in low concentrations. Therefore, MG is used mainly in dyeing for wool, leather, cotton, paper, wood, jute and as an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitical agent in aquaculture. The releasing of wastewater with MG from various industries is a huge problem because of the existence of MG in the wastewater causes toxicity for aquatic lives and it enters into the trophic levels of the food chains and causes teratogenic, mutagenic, carcinogenic and tumor-enhancing effects on human beings. Therefore, the major concern of this study is the removal of MG dye from an aqueous solution on activated carbon generated from Strychnos potatorum (Ingini) seeds (ACSP). The ACSP was characterized by Scanning electron microscope (SEM). The batch adsorption studies were conducted to determine the effect of adsorbent dosage, initial MG concentration, contact time and temperature on the removal of MG. The efficiency of the dye adsorption was determined by Pseudo-first order and Pseudo-second order kinetic models. The adsorption nature was determined by the thermodynamic study. According to the results of this study, the maximum removal percentage of MG dye (99.67%) was obtained for 0.20 g of adsorbent per 25.00 mL of MG volume, pH 4, 30 0C, 60 mg L-1 of initial MG concentration and 2 h contact time and Pseudo-second order kinetic model was well fitted to the data. The negative value for the Gibbs free energy change showed the spontaneity and feasibility of this adsorption process. Keywords: Malachite green, kinetic, thermodynamic, adsorbent, Strychnos potatorum.
Reduction of Carbon Dioxide Emission from the Use Phase of Electric Vehicles in Thailand
Authors:   Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University, Thailand, Chinda Thanwadee
Published: November 2024

Electric vehicle is a solution to reduce global warming, carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, and environmental impact and achieve sustainable development goals. The Thai government planned that 30% of new vehicles produced in Thailand in 2030 would be zero-emission vehicles. With various government support, the number of EVs is expected to increase in the next few years abruptly. With an increased use of EVs, it is expected that the CO2 emission will be reduced. This study develops a system dynamics (SD) model utilizing an SD modelling approach to predict the number of EVs and examine the reduction of CO2 emissions from EVs in the use phase. It focuses on dynamic relationships between variables and is associated with the time-dependent behaviour of controlled systems. The simulation results show a CO2 emission reduction of 15.37 million tonnes in 2030. With continuous promotion of EVs, the amount of CO2 emission reduction is expected to be 37.29 million tonnes in 2036. The sensitivity analysis results reveal that by changing the driving distance from the minimum to maximum distances, only the magnitude of the model changes, while the model behaviour remains the same. This confirms the validity of the developed SD model. It is found that by maximizing the driving distance by 33%, the CO2 emission is further reduced by almost 50%. Moreover, when the government support period is changed to four years, the CO2 emission reduction becomes 19.73 million tonnes, reaching the government target of a 30% reduction in 2030. The Thai government may use the study results to plan for supporting policies to enhance the demand for EVs and achieve the SDGs in the long term. Different policies may be tested to select suitable policies for implementation. Countries with similar EV market statuses may adjust the study results to suit their implementation. Keywords: CO2 reduction, electric vehicle, sustainable development goal, system dynamics modelling, use phase
An Investigation on the Reliability of Pile Toe Defect Rectification Method used in Sri Lanka
Authors:   School of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Curtin University, Colombo, Sri Lanka., Hapugaswattea Muthulee , Thilakarathne T.M.D ,   Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom, Thilakasiri H.S ,   Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

The foundation is the vital part of any infrastructure as it will be the element that will eventually bear the superstructure load. In cases where the soil conditions are poor and structural loads are high, pile foundations are used more often. These piles should be defect free to not fail under the structural loads. So, the identification and rectification of such defects should be performed at early stages of construction. In this study, the reliability of the rectification method used for pile toe defect rectification in Sri Lanka (pile coring and grouting method) is studied. Raw data from 11 piles, found as defective through Cross-hole Sonic Logging (CSL) test, are analyzed. Six of these piles were retested after rectification using the same test while the remaining piles were retested using High Strain Dynamic (PDA) test. Out of the six piles, three showed an increase in the effective area, two still showed some defective areas and one was an incomplete test due to a blocked tube. Out of the five tested through PDA test, only one showed an acceptable β value, which is a parameter that represents the scale of the pile defects identified. Therefore, it was concluded that even though there is an overall improvement in the pile effective area, some defects could still exist within the pile that may require to be rectified and retested for integrity. It was also concluded that due to the comparatively lower accuracy of the PDA test, acceptance of a defective pile based only on this test without rectification is not acceptable. Future research suggestions were made to further refine the results of this research and to expand the scope to defects in other regions of the pile. Keywords: Pile Rectification, Cross-hole Sonic Logging, High Strain Dynamic, Pile Coring and Grouting, Sri Lanka
Development of DSSC Counter Electrode Using PEDOT: PSS/GO Nanocomposite
Authors:   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Ravindran N. S , Wijayarathne W. M. K. B. N ,   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Chandrika R. P ,   Postgraduate Institute of Science, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka., Medagedara A. D. T ,   National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hanthana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka., Kumara G. R. A ,   National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Hanthana Road, Kandy, Sri Lanka, Bandara T. M. W. J ,   University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have garnered considerable research interest owing to their ability to achieve high photo-to-electric energy conversion efficiencies at a relatively low production cost. While platinum has been recognized for its exceptional electrocatalytic performance and efficiency as a counter electrode in DSSCs, its higher cost and vulnerability to corrosion have prompted the exploration of alternative materials to replace Pt in this role. DSSCs have demonstrated noteworthy photovoltaic performances by employing a range of candidate materials, including conducting polymers, carbon materials, and nanocomposites of conducting polymers and carbon materials, as counter electrodes. The motivation to form composites or hybrids with nanomaterials stems from the aim to improve the overall photovoltaic efficiency in DSSCs. The main objective of this study was to fabricate a DSSC utilizing a counter electrode comprised of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate and graphene oxide (PEDOT: PSS/GO). The fabrication of the counter electrode involved depositing the PEDOT: PSS/GO nanocomposite onto a graphite sheet using drop casting. The GO, which was synthesized through a modified version of Hummer’s method, underwent characterization via Raman spectroscopy and XRD analysis to ensure a successful synthesis process. The surface morphology and the Raman spectra of coated nanocomposites indicated the good dispersion of GO and the strong interaction between GO and the PSS chain, respectively. In the fabrication process of the DSSC, a gel polymer electrolyte was incorporated between a five-layer TiO2-based photoanode and the PEDOT: PSS/GO-based counter electrode. Photovoltaic performances of DSSCs were evaluated under simulated solar irradiance of 1000 W m-2. They were able to achieve a power conversion efficiency of 2.7%, Voc of 0.73 mV, Jsc of 5.21 mA cm-2, and a fill factor of 0.71. Keywords: Dye-sensitized solar cells, Graphite, Graphene oxide, Counter electrode, PEDOT:
Associations Between Socioeconomic and Trip Characteristics of Bus Passengers to Plan for Transfer-Based Bus Transport Operations (TBBTN)
Authors:   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, Silva K.N.R , Sharic A.H.S ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Ratmalana, Sri Lanka, Bandara J.M.S.J ,   Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Moratuwa, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Sri Lanka's bus transportation system relies heavily on direct routes connecting main town or city centers, leading to operational challenges such as route overlap, increased fleet requirements, and financial losses. To address these issues, this study advocates for a transfer-based bus transportation (TBBTN) approach. The proposed strategy involves shortening route lengths, boosting service frequency, and minimizing overlap to potentially enhance revenue per kilometer for operators. However, this approach introduces passenger inconvenience as travelers are required to switch buses. Analyzing the associations between passenger socioeconomic characteristics and trip characteristics is crucial for effective TBBTN planning. Data was collected through interviews with randomly selected passengers, and the study revealed that as passengers' ages increased, their service expectations rose, with younger passengers expressing concerns about trip costs. The TBBTN aims to streamline transfers and reduce travel expenses, catering to diverse income groups. The positive correlation between income levels and service expectations supports the potential for TBBTN to offer improved amenities. With buses being widely used for work and educational trips and considering reduced car ownership among young and middle-aged passengers, TBBTN emerges as an affordable alternative. The study also emphasizes the importance of addressing gender-specific service expectations, particularly safety concerns among females, by establishing well-lit and secure transfer points. Ultimately, the proposal recommends prioritizing passenger expectations, affordability, and addressing diverse demographic needs to enhance the overall transportation experience for all. Keywords: Transfer, Bus transport, Socioeconomic, Trip characteristics, Associations.
Design Environments Inspiring Employee Satisfaction: A Comprehensive Study on Design Elements Rousing Satisfaction Levels with Special Reference To State Sector Offices in Homagama, Sri Lanka.
Authors:   School of Architecture, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Malabe, Sri Lanka, Dedduwa Pathirana Viduni , Wijesundara Jeeva ,   School of Architecture, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Though job satisfaction is one of the most studied facets of organizational behaviour, the involvement between its physical environment and satisfaction for work efficiency is seldom studied. A quality design fosters a less stressful and productive office environment. The employable community has proliferated with the development of the tech city in Homagama. Thus, a healthy office environment is essential for employees' eight-hour daily work duration. This paper aims to study how employees determine their satisfaction level within the work environment regarding different design elements. It investigates the extent of integration of identified design elements and discusses further necessary improvements. The research involved 84 employees across three state-sector offices in Homagama: the Divisional Secretariat Office, the Zonal Education Department, and the Medical Officer of Health. The examination will utilize on-site observation, an open-ended structured questionnaire and available literature. The perceived importance of different parameters will be clarified with the compatibility of the standard parameters of British standards. The results highlight a significant impact on employee satisfaction due to the lack of personal space, with additional factors including internal layout, furniture, circulation space, ventilation levels, and sanitary facilities. Furthermore, the study indicates that the perceived importance of design parameters equals or higher than the importance of satisfaction. In conclusion, prioritizing employee health and well-being in office spaces is crucial for improving overall well-being, efficiency, and reducing energy consumption. The paper suggested enhancing office design through the implementation of passive design principles and space utilization strategies. The insights will be useful for architects and facility managers to utilize the interior by improving the quality of productive, user-friendly, energy-efficient, and sustainable offices. Keywords: Employees’ satisfaction, Cognitive function, energy consumption, passive design principles
Experimental Investigation of Some Strength Parameter Correlation in Blended Cement Concrete
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Chularathna P. K. G. O. T , Somaratna N ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Sri Lanka has adopted Eurocodes for structural designs. Accordingly, the design of concrete structures should adhere to EN1992 (Eurocode 2). The strength parameters of concrete essential for designs are classified in Eurocode 2 based on the compressive strength of concrete. Most of the other relevant strength parameters are derived using correlations with compressive strength. These correlations based on past empirical test results would typically be valid for concrete made using ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Recently there has been a tendency to use blended cements for concrete. To develop economical and safe designs in such cases the correlations among strength parameters used in EN 1992 should be verified as being applicable to blended cement concrete too. The study presented here was aimed at investigating the applicability of EN 1992 correlation between compressive strength and split cylinder tensile strength to blended cement concretes. Test specimens of concrete made using a blended cement – Portland Composite Cement (PCC) – were cast, cured, and tested under standard conditions for their compressive strength and split cylinder tensile strength. These tests were repeated for greater reliability. For comparison, similar tests were performed on concrete made using OPC also. The measured compressive strengths were used to produce estimated values of corresponding tensile strengths following the EN1992 correlations. Comparisons were made, in graphical form, between the measured tensile strengths and the estimated tensile strengths. Separately for each cement type. They revealed that the test results for OPC concrete, as expected, aligned with EN1992 correlations with a significant margin of safety while those related to blended cement, though complying with EN1992 correlations, provided only a narrow margin of safety. This indicates a need for a higher level of quality assurance for blended cement concrete. As these observations are based on a limited number of tests it is recommended to conduct further comprehensive studies. Keywords: Eurocodes, Concrete, Tensile strength, Compressive strength, Blended cement
Battery-Less Sensor Node Design with Solar Panels and LoRa for Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors:   Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, SLTC Research University, Ingiriya Road, Padukka, Sri Lanka., Premachandra N.G.P.R , Edirisinghe Sampath ,   Faculty of Engineering, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka.
Published: November 2024

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a network of sensors that detect physical changes and convert them into analog or digital signals. These sensors communicate with each other to monitor and collect data from a specific area. Applications of WSNs range from environmental monitoring to agriculture, industrial automation, etc. The current WSN nodes are powered by rechargeable batteries and designed for short distances. The problems faced with current WSNs are short-distance communication, battery replacement in large, deployed networks, and rechargeable batteries that take longer time periods to recharge. The term “battery-less” refers to devices that operate without traditional batteries or external power sources. In this design, solar energy is used as a sustainable energy source, and supercapacitors are used to store the solar energy. Supercapacitors have a greater number of charging-discharging cycles than batteries, which can operate in a wide temperature range. They are also more environmentally friendly than typical batteries. LoRa is the technology used for long-range communication, which operates in Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) radio bands, which is the most cost-effective technology that provides wide coverage with low power consumption. For power management, lowpower approach and sleep mode are used to make the sensor node work efficiently with the stored power in the supercapacitors. The whole system design was optimized, taking scalability, performance, and cost-effectiveness into account. Keywords: Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), Solar power, Supercapacitors, LoRa, Power efficiency, Cost effectiveness.
Impact of Pandemic on Finances of SMEs in Sri Lankan Construction Industry
Authors:   University of South Wales, United Kingdom, Abeysiri Ohara , Allis Chamari ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Lokuge Angel ,   Construction Cost Information (Pvt) Ltd
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on the impact of the pandemic on the financial aspects of Sri Lankan construction SMEs. The pandemic has significantly affected economies globally. Sri Lanka, a country whose economy mainly consists of SMEs, has faced adverse effects due to the preventive measures implemented to control the spread of the disease. Nearly 90% of registered construction firms in Sri Lanka belong to the SME category. Financial challenges or difficulties were encountered by construction SMEs even before the pandemic impacted Sri Lanka. Currently, most of the Sri Lankan construction SMEs are on the brink of bankruptcy, mainly due to the financial challenges brought about by the pandemic. This study comprises primary data produced from semi-structured interviews and secondary sources of data from the literature review. It has identified the financial challenges undergone by construction SMEs in usual manners, including limited access to bank credit facilities, lack of capital of the contractor, and lack of cash flow due to delayed payments, among others. Principally, there were several financial challenges created due to the pandemic, including barriers in obtaining credit facilities from suppliers, and the challenges that were usually present have intensified with the effects of the ongoing pandemic. In the latter part of this study, strategies that Sri Lankan construction SMEs have executed to survive in the industry are pointed out. Most SME contractors in Sri Lanka do not have positive perspectives on staying in the industry for the long term, given the financial challenges they have encountered with the current pandemic. Keywords: Construction, Financial Challenges, Pandemic, SMEs, Sri Lankan
Numerical Simulation and VARTM Process for Manufacturing of Coir Mats
Authors:   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Sudarshana W. S. A , Gallage Dr. Ruwan ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna, Srimal Dr. L.K.T ,   Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Ruhuna
Published: November 2024

A composite material is manufactured by combining two or more materials. The final product has properties different from the individual materials. Using coir fiber as a reinforcement in composite material has gained researchers’ attention due to its better physical, mechanical, and thermal properties. Vacuum Assisted Resin Transfer Molding (VARTM) is a manufacturing method for making large composite parts. This process uses an open mold to manufacture the composite material. This research uses the VARTM process and traditional hand lay-up methods to manufacture coir mats. The basic materials are coir fiber-reinforced natural rubber matrix resin. The produced bio-composite materials will be biodegradable with less impact on the environment. The VARTM process uses atmospheric pressure and room temperature to inject the resin into the mold. Therefore, the operation is easier to control. This process involves vacuum injection to remove air from the mold and fill the coir fiber with the natural rubber latex resin. Finally, VARTM coir mats and hand lay-up coir mats were tested to find their thermal properties, and the best-suited manufacturing method was selected for roofing insulation applications of buildings. Manufacturers can accurately forecast the filling time and flow front pattern of the natural fiber latex resin all around the mold by simulating the VARTM process with ANSYS software. This simulation allows for better control and optimization of the manufacturing process for coir mats, ensuring uniform quality and geometrical accuracy. ANSYS software provides a diversified platform to simulate the VARTM process, allowing manufacturers to analyze various parameters such as resin flow and pressure distribution inside the mold. By introducing ANSYS simulation into the manufacturing workflow, operators can learn about process optimization, material use efficiency, and potential areas for operation improvement. However, integrating ANSYS simulation with the VARTM process enhances the manufacturing of coir mats and aligns with industrial growth and efficient and sustainable production practices. Keywords: VARTM, Coir Fiber, ANSYS, Natural Rubber, Compound Latex
Correlation of compressive strength and flexural tensile strength of blended cement concrete
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Kulathilaka U. G. D. U , Somaratna N ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Eurocodes for structural designs have been adopted for Sri Lanka. Hence in Sri Lanka, concrete designs need to be in compliance with the relevant Eurocodes – mainly EN1992 (EC2). In EC2, concrete is categorized by its compressive strength. The other strength parameters are derived from the compressive strength using correlations based on empirical data. A recent trend has been the increasing use of blended cement for concrete in certain applications. But the correlations specified in EC2 are based on data probably related to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. It is important to examine whether the correlations listed in EC2 are applicable to blended cement concrete too. The present study was performed to experimentally examine the correlation of compressive strength and flexural tensile strength of blended cement concrete. A parallel study was conducted for OPC concrete to serve as a baseline reference. Standard beam and cylinder specimens of concrete were cast, cured, and tested for flexural tensile strength and compressive strength. Three different mix ratios were used. Each mix was tested twice. The same series of tests were conducted for blended cement (Portland Composite Cement – PCC) and for OPC. Experimentally measured values of flexural tensile strength were compared against their estimated values derived from the experimentally measured compressive strengths, using EC2 listed relationships. The analysis showed that in the case of both OPC as well as PCC, the measured values of the flexural tensile strength exceeded their estimated values based on EC2 relationships. But the testing conducted has been limited in the number of tests performed, the range of mix ratios, and the types of aggregate used. In order to affirm the general applicability of Eurocode 2 relationships for blended cement concrete also, additional more comprehensive testing is warranted across a wider span of mix ratios and aggregate types. Keywords: Tensile strength, Compressive strength, Eurocode 2, Blended cements
Empowering Urban Resilience: Innovative Architectural Solutions for Sustainable and Affordable Low-Income Settlements in Sri Lanka.
Authors:   SLIIT School of Architecture, Perera W.M. Bumindu Iroshan Umayanga
Published: November 2024

‘Low-income settlements’ are emerging as an upcoming situation within the current economic situation within Sri Lanka, which makes people’s lives even harder to fulfill their basic needs. Within such a scenario of rising living cost issues within the country, most people tend to accept the implementation of ‘low-income settlements’ which are not the fulfillment of the essentiality in facilities that need to exist within a properly constructed house. This study intends firstly, to assess the current architectural issues and their implications that impoverished people, secondly, to find creative, affordable, and environmentally friendly housing prototypes that are suited to the requirements and thirdly, to engage with swaying the residents' hearts and minds toward capturing innovative, affordable, and sustainable housing solutions. This will be conducted as a case study by specifying the community of Lake Crest Residence, Mandawila, and another housing scheme in Borella, near to Grama Niladhari Office, Narahenpita as destinations for the greater emergence of low-income housing settlements. Respective data would be gathered based on primary sources of semi-structured interviews from the community. This presents a detailed analysis of prevailing architectural issues and their implications to suggest creative, affordable, and environmentally friendly housing solutions. Therefore, the research findings can be utilized to improve the current standard of living of these dwellers to sustain the quality of their lives within the challenge of increasing global population. Keywords: low-income settlements, Quality of life, Affordable, creative, Sustainability, Global population.
Efficiency Enhanced by Chelation of Al3+ Metal Ions with Erythrina Fusca Flower Dye Harnessing Bathochromic Shift
Authors:   Department of Physics, The Open University of Sri Lanka, Mannawadua M.W.M.K , Perera V.P.S ,   Department of Physics, The Open University of Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

Utilization of natural dyes in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) presents a sustainable approach towards enhancing photovoltaic efficiency. This study explores the bathochromic shift exhibited by Erythrina fusca (Erabodu) flower dye upon chelation with Al3+ ions, offering an innovative strategy for improving DSSC performance. 20g of chopped flower petals was boiled with 50ml of ethanol until flower petals become pale in colour in the dye extraction process. After that, 0.1 M, AlCl3 solution was added dropwise to 2ml of dye solution until the colour changed to purple. The pH value of Erabadu bare dye was recorded as 5.47 and with the Al3+ ion addition it was changed to 4.49. Through spectroscopic analysis and electrochemical characterization, the chelation mechanism and its impact on dye absorption spectra and electron transfer dynamics was elucidated. The Dye was coated on a thin film of TiO2 nanoparticles deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass plates. FTO glass which coated with platinum was used as the counter electrode and iodin/triiodide (I2 / I3 -) was used as the electrolyte. Solar cell was tested with a light source with an intensity of 100 mW/cm2. Al3+ ion chelated Erabadu dye exhibited higher efficiencies than bare dye which was 1.627%. The open circuit voltage (Voc) of this cell was 470mV, short circuit current density (Jsc) was 4.00 mA/cm2 and the fill factor of DSSC’s was 0.553. The Incident Photon to Current Conversion Efficiency (IPCE) of the cell further revealed the action spectrum was broadened between 300 nm – 500 nm enhancing the efficiency. Our findings unveil the potential of Al3+ ion chelated Erythrina fusca dye as a promising sensitizer for DSSCs, paving the way for eco-friendly and efficient solar energy conversion. Keywords: Bathochromic shift, Dye-sensitized solar cells, Nanoparticles, VIS spectroscopy, IPEC
Enhanced Lightweight Visual Cryptosystem (ELVC): Fortifying Cybersecurity for Visual Data Protection
Authors:   Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Kalavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India., Bhuvaneshwari A. J , Kaythry P ,   Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Rajiv Gandhi Salai, Kalavakkam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
Published: November 2024

Within the field of cybersecurity, protecting visual data poses significant difficulties because of its extensive use and vulnerability to unwanted access. This article introduces the Enhanced Lightweight Visual Cryptosystem (ELVC), which is intended to strengthen cybersecurity by efficiently encrypting visual data. Using the Blake2 hash algorithm and advanced encryption techniques, the ELVC encrypts AC and DC coefficients, which are critical components in visual data compression. The encryption algorithm improves data security by calculating entropy, histograms, and PSNR values. Rigorous NIST performance tests demonstrate the ELVC's resilience to cryptographic weaknesses, ensuring its effectiveness in preventing cyber-attacks. The ELVC, which emphasizes both security and efficiency, is well-suited for deployment in resource-constrained situations like mobile and IoT devices. With its ability to protect visual data while maintaining quick processing, the ELVC stands as a noteworthy advancement in cybersecurity, offering heightened resilience against evolving threats. Keywords: Cyberattacks, Cybersecurity, DC coefficients encryption, Efficiency, Hash NIST, Resource constraint devices.
Steerable Directional Listening for Individuals with Unilateral Hearing Loss
Authors:   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Wimalaratne Udarshana Achintha , Seneviratne Lasantha ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka, Malasinghe Lakmini ,   Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology, Malabe, Sri Lanka
Published: November 2024

A novel hearing aid design which incorporates 3 separate phased arrays with a digital signal processor running an adaptive beamforming algorithm, Generalized Sidelobe Canceller (GSC), providing the user with the capability of effectively focusing their listening to a certain source while suppressing any masking interference sources. The proposed phased array achieved an array directivity of 7.93dB with a half power bandwidth of 35.20º. The GSC and the phased array designed, when simulated, was able to achieve a SINR improvement of 9.72dB under strong noise levels and a 2.55dB SINR improvement under low level noise which were located spatially close to the desired source. Keywords: Hearing aids, Adaptive
Enriching Resilience in Smart Manufacturing: Critical Analysis of Industry 4.0 Technologies on Sustainable Production Process
Authors:   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Kandawala Road, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Karunarathne PLDN , Gamage HCT ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Kandawala Road, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Kawya MVT ,   General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Kandawala Road, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia
Published: November 2024

Integration of Industry 4.0 technologies in smart manufacturing in the context of sustainable production processes has opened new paths to enrich resilience. This research aims at how Industry 4.0 technologies can be applied to smart manufacturing which is empowered by sustainable production processes in order to achieve maximum resilience. Through a broad literature review, key theories, concepts, and practical and theoretical studies related to smart manufacturing, resilience, and sustainability of production processes are examined. And the theme itself drives to establish a couple of research questions in order to find solutions and derive research inventions as to how Industry 4.0 technologies can enrich resilience in manufacturing and what sustainability implications arise from their adoption. And data gathering is been done using a simple questionnaire and analyzed using an extensive as well as a comparative method after considering how production processes have been changed before and after applying Industry 4.0 technologies. Overall, Industry 4.0 not only creates a more efficient and higher quality production process, but it also enables the things like predictive and preventive maintenance and upgrades, which results in lower downtime and less capital expenditure over time. Keywords: Smart Manufacturing, Industry 4.0, Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Production processes, Sustainability.
Marketing Agility, Innovation Capabilities, and Customer Satisfaction
Authors: Bargouthi Mohammad
Published: November 2024

Managers and scholars have recently shown interest in marketing agility. Nevertheless, the current body of research on marketing agility has primarily focused on the influence of marketing agility on a company’s performance while overlooking the potential influence of marketing agility on innovation capabilities and customer satisfaction. In addition, earlier research has focused on analyzing marketing agility from the company's standpoint, neglecting to consider the influence of marketing agility on the consumer from the customer's standpoint. This study seeks to address this knowledge gap by investigating the influence of marketing agility on innovation capabilities. Additionally, it analyzes the impact of innovation capabilities on customer satisfaction. The study focused on owners and senior managers of industrial enterprises operating in Palestine. The sample size consisted of 162 senior managers. The Structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was used to test hypotheses. The findings indicate that marketing agility has a significant positive impact on innovation capabilities. Moreover, innovation capabilities positively influence customer satisfaction. Therefore, a series of suggestions are given to senior managers of organizations to assist in promoting organizational actions that improve marketing agility and innovation capabilities, which are suitable for the overall context of customer demand development.
Attacker-defined Abstractions
Authors:   , Bosman Erik
Published: November 2024

Abstractions are fundamental to software engineering. Modern systems are
simply too complex for any single person to completely keep in their head, and
abstractions are a great way to divide up required functionality into separate
components. This allows for division of labor and simplifies reasoning about
the correctness of parts of the system.

However, hiding implementation details behind abstractions can conceal problems
that implementations might have. On top of that, confusion about what exact
functionality an abstraction provides can also lead to flaws that can be exploited
by attackers.

Exploit development is a software engineering discipline in itself, and as
such, also often makes use of abstractions. While an attacker has to work with
the implementations of their target system, they are not restricted to viewing
this system through the same abstractions. Sometimes un(der)specified
behaviors in the implementation of one abstraction, which in isolation seem
innocuous, can interact with other parts of a system to create a new flaw, or
exacerbate an existing one.

This dissertation explores three ways in which unforeseen interactions between
abstraction layers can lead to security vulnerabilities, or make them worse.

First, we explore how the choice of implementation of an obscure part of
UNIX/Linux operating system enables an exploitation technique called sigreturn oriented programming. It
turns out that this gives attackers a lot of control over a program's execution
state, simplifying writing exploits greatly. In some cases, it even allows for
exploits that work regardless of what specific version of a vulnerable program
is being exploited.

Next, we examine the security implications of Memory Deduplication, a
performance optimization commonly found in both virtualization environments and
operating systems. Our work shows how Deduplication can be abused as a
side-channel in a more powerful way than was previously known. Furthermore, by
combining this side-channel to leak data, with a hardware flaw called Rowhammer
to cause a useful corruption informed by this data, we show that it is possible
to exploit a browser without making use of any flaws in that browser.

Finally we combine Rowhammer and Deduplication in a different way to create a
precise memory corruption primitive in a technique we call Flip Feng-shui.
Here, Deduplication is used as a means to get more control over
an otherwise random memory corruption. This enables us to corrupt cryptographic
key material, and configuration files, and allows us to take over a virtual machine
from another virtual machine that runs on the same hardware.
Artificial intelligence in the function of improving port systems
Authors: Jugović Alen , Poletan Jugović Tanja , Oblak Renato , Žgaljić Dražen
Published: November 2024

Decision-making in port activities is characterized by speed, flexibility, rationality, efficiency and economy. However, the main role in their implementation is played by port employees who are not always able to be reliable, timely and objective. Likewise, their insufficient education, lack of professional knowledge and experience, and insufficient number of adequate port workforce can negatively affect the sustainable functioning of port systems. The introduction of new technologies and systems that can process a large amount of data and imitate human activities such as reasoning, learning, planning and creativity represents a fundamental challenge in achieving goals aimed at improving port operations. Therefore, the application of artificial intelligence seems inevitable because only it can provide a higher level of possibilities in the future development of the port. In this paper, a basic matrix of all the constituent elements that make up a complete port system with an applicable model of their computerization, digitization and automation is laid out. With such an approach, all port activities will be able to take place without direct human activity, and supervision over their implementation will be completely autonomous. In this way, the operations of the ports themselves will be more productive, more competitive, safer and more economical, and port users will get one open, simple and reviewed tool that will be able to meet all their needs for port services in one place in real time.
Construction of Japanese-Chinese Onomatopoeia Corpus Based on Events and Behaviors
Authors: Zhang Wenjing , Chino Amika , Yan Siyu , Teraoka Takehiro
Published: November 2024

Numerous manga (Japanese comics) are translated into various languages every year, but the onomatopoeia that depicted in Mangas frequently controls the strength and nuance of the impression by repeatedly using prompts and long notes often remains untranslated, which prevents many manga fans from having the full reading experience. This study focuses on translating Japanese onomatopoeia into Chinese as a first step. The ultimate goal for this research is to translate onomatopoeia into multiple languages. In previous research, the focus was primarily on translating the onomatopoeia itself, whereas this study proposes a method that translates both the onomatopoeia and its related words. Toward this end, we constructed a Japanese-Chinese onomatopoeia (JCO) corpus. Our dataset includes an accurate translation of each onomatopoeia as well as a related word that makes the sound or indicates the event or behavior. The corpus is mainly composed of onomatopoeia found in Manga 109, with additional entries collected from the internet. The most appropriate word is determined by calculating the cosine similarity and Levenshtein distance. If the word cannot be determined from our dataset, we use the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to transcribe the Japanese characters into their closest Chinese phonetic counterparts. The onomatopoeia depicted in mangas frequently controls the strength and nuance of the impression by repeatedly using prompts and long notes, which adds to the complexity of translating these terms accurately. This is because the repeated use of certain characters and the lengthening of sounds in onomatopoeia can convey different intensities and subtleties of the depicted actions or emotions. We also developed a tool to aid manga translators in determining the most appropriate translation for onomatopoeia. The tool works by allowing users to input Japanese onomatopoeia and their related words, and then automatically outputs the most suitable Chinese translation.During our experiments, we randomly selected five manga from Manga 109 and extracted 100 unique onomatopoeic words for testing. The resulting translations were evaluated by native Chinese speakers who are also proficient in Japanese and Japanese speakers who are also proficient in Chinese, and their overall feedback was positive, indicating that the corpus and tool could be used to translate onomatopoeia with sufficient accuracy.