Determination of Geographical and Seasonal Variations of Heavy Metals in Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus albacares)

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Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in marine fish is a major concern worldwide and it leads to some economical burdens for the tropical fish exporters. However, data is yet to be unavailable in Sri Lanka in this regard. Hence this study was conducted to explore geographical variation of heavy metal accumulation in the Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) and Yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) as they play a predominant role in the export fish market in Sri Lanka. Secondary heavy metal analysis data of Mercury, Led, Arsenic and Cadmium were collected from two major fish export companies in Sri Lanka during the period of 2015 to 2017. Particular points were traced with the aid of log sheets and heavy metal variations were mapped against fish species and heavy metal concentrations by using QGIS software. Heavy metal analysis data were concentrated between 64 to 70 longitudes and 0 to 8 latitudes, 76 to 80 longitudes and 0 to 8 latitudes, 88 to 92 longitudes and 14 to18 latitudes and 82 to 90 longitudes and 6 to 14 latitudes. Heavy metals such as Cd, As and Pb were not detected in the fish samples. Mercury was the major heavy metal accumulated among the tested and high concentration was detected in Swordfish. Mercury accumulation was highest in longitudes between 64 to 70 and latitudes of 0 to 8.This shows serious health issues that are challenging to humans and provides clear evidence on marine pollution. It is recommended to prevent fishing in these particular areas. Proactive measures and techniques need to be applied to fix safe limits of heavy metals in these natural aquatic ecosystems and protect the organisms in the environment.

Community Empowerment in the Time of the Covid-19 Pandemic through Strengthening MSMEs in East Java

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People’s economic empowerment is an effort to create a strong, large, modern, and highly competitive economy in the correct market mechanism. Because the obstacles to people’s economic development are structural constraints, the empowerment of the people’s economy must be carried out through structural changes. The Covid-19 pandemic has hit many countries, including Indonesia. Covid-19 has had an impact on various sectors including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), including the decline in the number of sales.

This research method uses a qualitative descriptive approach. This research uses a case study approach, which is an empirical inquiry that investigates phenomena in real-life contexts, where the boundaries between phenomena and contexts are not clear, and there are multiple sources of evidence. The results of the research are that business actors seek to find marketing and sales alternatives, secure capital and assets, temporarily transfer them to other businesses, and must learn technologies that are considered effective for promotion and sales.

 

How Decreased Level of Plasma Tryptophan Play Role in Diabetic Patients?

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Tryptophan is an essential amino acid found in many protein-based foods and dietary proteins including meats, dairy, fruits, and seeds. High-glycaemic index and -glycaemic load meals also increase the availability of tryptophan. The main objective of the study is to find the role of tryptophan in diabetic patients. Tryptophan metabolism has been reported highly associated with insulin resistance and diabetes risk. The activity of rate-limiting enzyme of tryptophan-kynurenine, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), was enhanced significantly in T2D patients, thus downstream metabolites such as kynurenine, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid and hydroxykynurenine, were higher in T2D than in non-diabetic subjects, although inconsistent observations of tryptophan levels. Returning to the question posed at the beginning of the review, these studies have shown that decreased level of tryptophan plays an important role in diabetic patients. decrease in plasma TRP levels in diabetic patients regardless of their gender and these patients also exhibited a greater incidence of memory dysfunction compared to the controls.

The Influence of Parental Divorce on Children’s Character Development

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This study aims to investigate the impact of parental divorce on children’s character development in a city in Indonesia. This used a case study qualitative method. Data was collected through direct observation, and in-depth interviews with divorced parents, children, and religious court staff. Written materials were also analyzed to find out the divorce cases handled at the city religious court. This study found that the causes of divorce are included economic limitation, domestic violence, betrayal, and longer conflict. The impact of the divorce on children’s character development included unstable children’s emotions, such as stress and mental pressure, dropping out of education, decrease children’s confidence and a lack of trust of the children to their parents. However, this study also found that the divorce also caused a positive impact on the children’s character in which the children become more independent and stronger in their lives. We suspect the divorce might have caused some children to build positive perceptions from their painful life. As such they take it as a positive life experience and then caused them to become more stronger and independent. Future research should focus on why some children perceive their parent’s divorce as a negative experience, while others accept it as a positive life experience and use it as a factor to be independent and stronger.

Biochemical Influence of Uric Acid and Some Inflammatory Biomarkers on the Association of Oral Hygiene with Cardiovascular Diseases

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Oral hygiene was associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and the link is verified by bacterial colonization of the oral cavity and their products that spread into the circulation, starting endothelial dysfunction, pro-atherogenesis, pro-inflammation, and host immune mechanisms. High levels of serum uric acids are linked with CVD that are intern, associated with worsening gum hygiene. Several studies show that hyperuricemia could modify purine catabolism in case of oral disorders, including periodontal diseases (PD) and dental loss. PD and tooth caries were also linked with diabetes mellitus hypertension, insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and CVD. Dental caries was defined as an independent risk factor for coronary atherosclerosis too. However, dental restoration was correlated with the burden of arteriosclerosis negatively. Several experimental trials did not affirm the relationship between oral hygiene and CVDs.

Recent research has revealed similar biochemical and inflammatory biomarkers that are involved in CVD and oral diseases like C-reactive protein, interleukins, TNF-α, and others.

This consensus review aims to summarize some of the biochemical and inflammatory evidence connecting poor oral hygiene with the risk of CVD.

Politics of Grassroot Sports Diplomacy in National Cohesion

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The current international relations system is quite dynamic, forcing many state governments to turn to sports as the most efficient soft power tool. Sports is perceived as an integral element of national identity more so, for a country that internationally has a good reputation in sports. Values of sports diplomacy include competition, teamwork and fair play. This form of diplomacy has the potential to inform, engage and influence key actors, especially youth, emerging leaders and women and girls.

However, sports, as a diplomatic tool has been always associated with mega-sport events, elite sports and professional athletes, neglecting sports at the grassroots level, where the organizations, interventions and stakeholders are considered irrelevant for state-led public diplomacy. Yet, grassroots sport-based interventions have the capability of strengthening people-to-people relations, hence contributing to national cohesion. By developing grassroots sports, the objective is to grow elite sports men and women who will eventually form teams that will compete favorably on the international arena. This paper hence discusses the politics of grassroots sports diplomacy towards national cohesion. It specifically addresses three objectives; First, it examines actors in grassroots sports diplomacy; Secondly, it Assesses tools used to promote grassroots sports and lastly it interrogates the discourse on grassroots sports diplomacy towards national cohesion. .  A descriptive research design enabled primary and secondary data to be collected. The data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. The paper concludes that grassroots sport diplomacy creates cooperative relations among citizens hence addressing the national unity crisis that most countries are faced with. Recommendations in relation to grassroots sports diplomacy as a tool for national cohesion have also been included.

Academically Challenged Students in Mathematics in Modular Distance Learning

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This phenomenological study sought to explore the lived experiences of the low-performing students in terms of the benefits, challenges, and coping strategies in a modular distance learning modality. The focused group interview was used with the purposively chosen respondents and employed triangulation of data to validate their responses. Results show that flexibility of learning, self-paced learning, access to technology, and simplified concepts and outputs were the benefits of MDL. However, lack of interaction with teachers and procrastination are the common challenges that these students have encountered and tried to cope up with. They have adopted positive methods and strategies to manage their difficulty in learning mathematics like self-motivation, seeking support, online information sources, and time management have been essential in studying in this modality. Learning mathematics is formally learned best in school but some of the students displayed positive engagement with MDL and further research should be conducted in that regard.

Canteen Food Ordering and Managing System

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The ‘Canteen Food Ordering and Managing System’ digitalize the operations inside a canteen. Initially the user must create an account, and then he can make use of the services. A menu will be provided from which the customer can choose the desired item then he can make payment online. In the proposed system the paper works will be less. The users can also make use of the virtual queue technique by which they can avoid long queues. The digitalization of the canteen system will help the management to provide a best-in-class service to the customers and which will also contribute in better time management. At last, the customers can also share their feedback through the website according to which the management can improve their services. Thus the online system will be helpful for both customers and the canteen.

Occupational Stressors of Teachers in the Department of Education Calbayog City Division

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Teaching is considered a noble profession. Despite being noble, it is considered demanding and stressful. This study was conducted to derive components that serve as occupational stressors of teachers in Calbayog City Division of the Department of Education. Three hundred and two teachers from Calbayog City Division of the Department of Education were identified by the researchers using random sampling technique. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin Test was applied to determine if Principal Component Analysis was appropriate for this study. Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was used to know the strength of correlation between different variables. The researchers were able to identify four components as the stressors of teachers such as Motivation (Component 1), Cultural Professionalism (Component 2), Workload (Component 3), and Technology (Component 4).

Book Review: The Ethical Visions of Psychotherapy

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Main component of many of the psychotherapies is the analysis of aspects of psychological functioning that patients are initially unaware of or deny. To the extent that this characterization of psychotherapy is not solely a means to an end but in human flourishing. In this book review, we describe the latest concern of ethical visions in psychotherapy. We conclude that, firstly, the supplement of standard measurement in psychotherapy likely facing many challenges. Secondly, a significant necessity to involve numeric field data to support the exposition regarding the percentage of psychoterapists who are presumed have not completely applied the utmost main goal which is personal flourishing should be, and thirdly, more elaboration is needed to explain the differences between factual field data observation and the ideal theory regarding personal flourishing in ethical psychotherapy by different background therapists.