scholarly journals Field evidence for microplastic interactions in marine benthic invertebrates

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Vecchi ◽  
Jessica Bianchi ◽  
Massimiliano Scalici ◽  
Fabrizio Fabroni ◽  
Paolo Tomassetti

AbstractMicroplastics represent an important issue of concern for marine ecosystems worldwide, and closed seas, such as the Mediterranean, are among the most affected by this increasing threat. These pollutants accumulate in large quantities in benthic environments causing detrimental effects on diverse biocenoses. The main focus of this study is on the ‘polychaetes-microplastics’ interactions, particularly on two species of benthic polychaetes with different ecology and feeding strategies: the sessile and filter feeder Sabella spallanzanii (Gmelin, 1791) and the vagile carnivorous Hermodice carunculata (Pallas, 1766). Since not standardized protocols are proposed in literature to date, we compared efficiencies of diverse common procedures suitable for digesting organic matter of polychaetes. After the definition of an efficient digestion protocol for microplastics extraction for both polychaetes, our results showed high microplastics ingestion in both species. Microplastics were found in 42% of individuals of S. spallanzanii, with a mean of 1 (± 1.62) microplastics per individual, in almost all individuals of H. carunculata (93%), with a mean of 3.35 (± 2.60). These significant differences emerged between S. spallanzanii and H. carunculata, is probably due to the diverse feeding strategies. The susceptibility to this pollutant makes these species good bioindicators of the impact of microplastics on biota.

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Sahlin ◽  
J. D. House

Enhancing the vitamin content of meat and eggs provides an opportunity to increase the levels of key nutrients-especially those deemed to be at marginal or insufficient levels-in the human diet for optimal health and well-being. In general, enhancement efforts have focussed on developing feeding strategies to achieve optimal vitamin levels in meat and eggs. The definition of an optimal strategy is influenced by factors such as: (1) the efficiency of vitamin transfer into the final product, (2) the impact on animal performance or health, (3) the impact on the quality characteristics of the final product and (4) economic considerations. Vitamins are an extremely diverse class of nutrients in terms of their chemical and physical properties. Each vitamin differs with respect to stability during processing, susceptibility to bioconversion within the intestinal tract, digestibility, transport and storage in tissues. It follows that the development of vitamin-enriched meat and eggs will be highly dependent on the interaction of multiple factors. Ultimately, the success of such strategies must be judged against the contributions that the enriched products make to the human diet in terms of vitamin intake and consumer acceptance of the products. Key words: Meat, eggs, vitamin enhancement, bioavailability, dietary reference intakes


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-81
Author(s):  
E. P. Kochetkov ◽  
A. A. Zabavina ◽  
M. G. Gafarov

The economic crisis generated by the coronavirus pandemic has acted as an accelerator for the digital transformation of almost all economic entities, as a result of which it has become a massive phenomenon. However, this situation has shown that the practical development of digital transformation as a tool for business management in the digital economy requires its theoretical understanding, the formation of a theoretical basis and a scientific definition of the essence of digital transformation of companies. In particular, one of the key problems in the implementation of digital transformation at the present time is the assessment of its effectiveness, since in most cases it does not always end successfully. At the same time, knowledge of approaches and criteria for the effectiveness of digital transformation can improve the quality of its implementation. The purpose of the study is to study approaches to assessing the effectiveness of digital transformation, to determine its nature and essence at a theoretical level, as well as to conduct an econometric analysis of the contribution of digital transformation to achieving the company's efficiency.In the course of the study the existing approaches to defining the essence of digital transformation were studied, its key elements that make up the basis were established, and the existing approaches to assessing the effectiveness of digital transformation of a company and its impact on business efficiency were studied. The absence of a unified approach to assessing the effectiveness of digital transformation and the main reasons for this problem have been established. Based on the results of the regression analysis of a sample of the largest companies of the pre-digital era, implementing digital transformation, the formulated hypothesis about the impact of digital transformation on the short-term performance of the company (profitability) was refuted, which allowed us to assume the strategic nature of this tool, the results of which are formed over a lag of time.When writing the article, various scientific research methods were used: deduction and induction when conducting empirical analysis of the activities of companies implementing digital transformation, analytical methods and regression analysis.The obtained results of the study contribute to the development of the theory of assessing the effectiveness of digital transformation of business, anti-crisis management and determine the directions for further theoretical developments.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Hurley ◽  
Jorg Hardege ◽  
Katharina C. Wollenberg Valero ◽  
Simon Morley

<p>Microplastics have been recognised as persistent marine contaminants and mounting evidence supports their designation as anthropogenic stressors to marine organisms. Despite the remoteness of Antarctica, microplastics contamination has been reported in every marine environment investigated in this area to date. Due to ocean currents and frontal systems, microplastics may become entrapped within polar regions and increase bioavailibilty to inhabiting fauna. Antarctic marine benthic invertebrates represent a research priority due to their sensitivity to change as well as contribution to ecological functioning and food webs. The current study investigated microplastics ingestion by the epifaunal, carnivorous polychaete <em>Barrukia cristata</em> and the infaunal, filter-feeding bivalve, <em>Laternula elliptica</em>. Animals were collected by SCUBA adjacent to Rothera research station, Adelaide Island. After digestion in 10 % potassium hydroxide (KOH) followed by filtration, microplastics ingested by individual animals were separated. Microplastics were then counted and characterised by shape, colour, size and polymer type by Micro-Fourier transform Infrared spectroscopy. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the most abundant polymer type, followed by polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA). Congruent to earlier reports, fibres were found to be the most abundant source of microplastics contamination. However, it must be highlighted that fragments were also recovered from the animals analysed. Results determined the current level of microplastics ingestion by two benthic marine invertebrates of different feeding strategies in coastal environments of the Antarctic Peninsula. These findings indicated the bioavailability of microplastics and highlighted the potential of trophic transfer throughout the Antarctic marine food web.</p>


EDUKASI ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hendra Karianga

Sources of revenue and expenditure of APBD (regional budget) can be allocated to finance the compulsory affairs and optional affairs in the form of programs and activities related to the improvement of public services, job creation, poverty alleviation, improvement of environmental quality, and regional economic growth. The implications of these policies is the need for funds to finance the implementation of the functions, that have become regional authority, is also increasing. In practice, regional financial management still poses a complicated issue because the regional head are reluctant to release pro-people regional budget policy, even implication of regional autonomy is likely to give birth to little kings in region causing losses to state finance and most end up in legal proceedings. This paper discusses the loss of state finance and forms of liability for losses to the state finance. The result of the study can be concluded firstly,  there are still many differences in giving meaning and definition of the loss of state finace and no standard definition of state losses, can cause difficulties. The difficulty there is in an effort to determine the amount of the state finance losses. The calculation of state/regions losses that occur today is simply assessing the suitability of the size of the budget and expenditure without considering profits earned by the community and the impact of the use of budget to the community. Secondly, the liability for losses to the state finance is the fulfillment of the consequences for a person to give or to do something in the regional financial management by giving birth to three forms of liability, namely the Criminal liability, Civil liability, and Administrative liability.Keywords: state finance losses, liability, regional finance.


2012 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-72
Author(s):  
Morteza Karimi-Nia

The status of tafsīr and Qur'anic studies in the Islamic Republic of Iran has changed significantly during recent decades. The essay provides an overview of the state of Qur'anic studies in Iran today, aiming to examine the extent of the impact of studies by Western scholars on Iranian academic circles during the last three decades and the relationship between them. As in most Islamic countries, the major bulk of academic activity in Iran in this field used to be undertaken by the traditional ʿulamāʾ; however, since the beginning of the twentieth century and the establishment of universities and other academic institutions in the Islamic world, there has been increasing diversity and development. After the Islamic Revolution, many gradual changes in the structure and approach of centres of religious learning and universities have occurred. Contemporary advancements in modern sciences and communications technologies have gradually brought the institutions engaged in the study of human sciences to confront the new context. As a result, the traditional Shīʿī centres of learning, which until 50 years ago devoted themselves exclusively to the study of Islamic law and jurisprudence, today pay attention to the teaching of foreign languages, Qur'anic sciences and exegesis, including Western studies about the Qur'an, to a certain extent, and recognise the importance of almost all of the human sciences of the West.


2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Saida Parvin

Women’s empowerment has been at the centre of research focus for many decades. Extant literature examined the process, outcome and various challenges. Some claimed substantial success, while others contradicted with evidence of failure. But the success remains a matter of debate due to lack of empirical evidence of actual empowerment of women around the world. The current study aimed to address this gap by taking a case study method. The study critically evaluates 20 cases carefully sampled to include representatives from the entire country of Bangladesh. The study demonstrates popular beliefs about microfinance often misguide even the borrowers and they start living in a fabricated feeling of empowerment, facing real challenges to achieve true empowerment in their lives. The impact of this finding is twofold; firstly there is a theoretical contribution, where the definition of women’s empowerment is proposed to be revisited considering findings from these cases. And lastly, the policy makers at governmental and non-governmental organisations, and multinational donor agencies need to revise their assessment tools for funding.


Author(s):  
Kateryna Sova ◽  
◽  
Natalia Yatsenko ◽  
Denys Zagirniak ◽  
◽  
...  

The article is devoted to the study of the impact of the introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on changes in the investment climate in Ukraine. The relevance of the topic is that improving the practice of applying IFRS as a tool for exchanging financial information is one of the key conditions for improving the investment climate in Ukraine. The authors have created the generalized scheme that illustrates the chronological list of enterprises that are required by law to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS. It was noted that in 2018, in accordance with Part 2 of Article 12 of the law on accounting and financial reporting in Ukraine and resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine No. 547 from 11.07.2018, the criteria of enterprises that are required to prepare financial statements in accordance with IFRS were updated. This step significantly increased the level of application of international standards due to the adoption of such a decision at the legislative level. The dynamics of the number of IFRS enterprises in Ukraine was analyzed. The analysis showed that over the past three years, the number of almost all enterprises that must apply international standards has been growing. The advantages of using IFRS for different users of financial statements were determined. It was determined that the priority users of IFRS financial statements are investors. At the same time, it was noted that the main advantage for other users of financial statements prepared in accordance with international standards is the improvement of the investment climate. The dynamics of the Investment Attractiveness Index of Ukraine based on the Likert scale in the period from 2016 to 2020 was analyzed. The direct investment receipts to Ukraine from the European Union countries were studied. The dynamics of direct investment in the Ukrainian economy was analyzed for two types of economic activities that should form financial statements in accordance with IFRS, namely, the extractive industry and quarrying, as well as financial and insurance activities.


Author(s):  
Adjeng Tiara Eltari ◽  
Hendrati Dwi Mulyaningsih

This research was conducted at the Culinary Hawkers that located on Highway Sukapura, Dayeuhkolot, Bandung. This study examines the Entrepreneurial behaviour which resulted in increased sales volumes. Almost all Culinary Hawkers on Highway Sukapura doesn’t yet have the entrepreneurial behavior in accordance with the characteristics - traits mentioned by Suryana, Confident, Own initiative, Have achievement motive, Having leadership, and Dare to take risks with the full calculation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of entrepreneurial behavior to the merchant's sales volume culinary pavement on Highway Sukapura, Dayeuhkolot, Bandung.Researchers used quantitative research methods. The population in this study was 63 Merchants Culinary Street on Highway Sukapura. Samples are 63 street vendors in JalanSukapura. Data were analyzed using simple regression analysis.The results showed that entrepreneurial behavior affect the sales volume of culinary street traders in Highway Sukapura. Based on the calculation coefficient of determination (R2) can be seen the effect of entrepreneurial behavior variables (X) on sales volume (Y) is approximately 94%. While the remaining 6% are influenced by other factors such as competence, performance, and motivation.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ansarullah ◽  
Ramli Rahim ◽  
Baharuddin Hamzah ◽  
Asniawaty Kusno ◽  
Muhammad Tayeb

Chicken feathers are the result of waste from slaughterhouses and billions ofkilograms of waste produced by various kinds of poultry processing. This hal is a veryserious problem for the environment because it causes the impact of pollution. Hasmany utilization of chicken feather waste such as making komocen, accessories,upholstery materials, making brackets to the manufacture of animal feed but from theresults of this activity cannot reduce the production of chicken feathers that hiscontinuously increase every year. This is due to the fact that the selling price of chickenmeat has been reached by consumers with middle to upper economic levels. This caneasily be a chicken menu in almost all restaurants and restaurants to the food stalls onthe side of the road. An alternative way of utilizing chicken feathers is to makecomposite materials in the form of panels. Recent studies have shown that the pvacmaterial can be utilized as a mixing and adhesive material with mashed or groundfeathered composites to form a panel that can later be used as an acoustic material.The test results show that the absorption of chicken feathers and pvac glue into panelscan absorb sound well with an absorption coefficient of 0.59, light. This result is veryeconomical so it is worth to be recommended as an acoustic material. Apart from theresults of research methods carried out is one of the environmentally friendly activitiesin particular the handling of waste problems


2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 25
Author(s):  
Enik Maslahah

<p>Purun is a typical plant that grow in peatland area that has important functions for people living in peatland area. The availability of purun is now decreasing due to changes in land management and environmental destruction. Almost all of the plantation commodities in the peatlands area, management of peatlands in the forestry, agriculture, plantation and fisheries sectors apply exploitative and pragmatic methods, while ignoring environmental sustainability. Furthermore, environmental damage also occurs due to disasters such as forest and land fires that often occur in peatland areas in Indonesia. One of the damages happen to peatland area is the damage and scarcity of purun. As users and beneficiaries of purun, women become the affected group that face  the impact of peatland destruction. This paper describes the experiences and efforts of women in peatland areas to restore land and restore the existence of purun in their villages.</p><p> </p>


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