Removal of lead from aqueous solutions using three biosorbents of aquatic origin with the emphasis on the affective factors

The biosorptive potentials of three aquatics-based biosorbents, including shells of a bivalve mollusk and scales of two fish species for Pb removal from aqueous solutions were evaluated, for the first time. A Box–Behnken design with the response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of the seven important variables (contact time, temperature, initial concentration, dosage, size, salinity and pH) on the sorption capacity of the sorbents. Among the seven studied factors, the effects of biosorbent dosage, initial concentration and pH were significant for all the response variables, while biosorbent size was not significant for any of the responses. The initial concentration was the most influential factor. The presence of Pb ions on the surfaces of the biosorbents after the adsorption was clearly confirmed by the SEM–EDX and XRF analyses. The maximum sorption capacities of the biosorbents were comparable to the literature and the descending order was as follows: scales of Rutilus kutum and Oncorhynchus mykiss and the shells of Cerastoderma glaucum. The isotherm studies revealed Langmuir model applicability for the Pb adsorption by R. kutum and O. mykiss scales, while Freundlich model was fitted to the adsorption C. glaucum shells.

Factors Influencing the Choice of Music Studies in Malaysian Public Universities

Introducing music in the early childhood can help influence students to have a positive attitude in pursuing music in a higher level of education. Examining the developmental aspects of the decision to continue music studies among undergraduate music students is necessary in order to determine which factors had the most influences. This study investigates factors influencing choice of music studies among undergraduate music students in Malaysian public universities namely institutional factors, academic factors, financial factors, and personal/social factors. A survey method was adopted, and 489 respondents were chosen using proportionate stratified random sampling to answer the questionnaire. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The finding showed that academic factors was ranked as the most influential factor on choice of music studies among music students. The results on inferential statistical analysis using independent-samples t-test and the One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) test showed that there were significant differences on factors influencing choice of music studies between ethnicities, universities attended, and instruments played. It is hoped that the findings will be beneficial to students, educators, and the university music programmes. Educators will also have access to the most up-to-date information in order to come up with strategies in encouraging students to study music.

Rockfall and Rainfall Correlation in the Anaga Nature Reserve in Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Rockfalls are frequent and damaging phenomena that occur on steep or vertical slopes, in coastal areas, mountains and along coastal cliff. Water, in different forms, is the most common triggered factor of rockfalls. Consequently, we can consider that precipitation is the most influential factor for slope instabilities and it influences almost all other water parameters. Besides, the specific geology of the Anaga nature reserve in the volcanic island of Tenerife, together with its steep landscape, contributes to the instability of the slopes and frequent rockfalls. Recently, due to climate change and global warming, the annual precipitation/rainfall has declined but the number of heavy storms, associated with intense rainfall and strong winds, events that exceed precipitation thresholds in a brief period has increased which triggers slope movements. This paper describes the analysis of information on rainfall-induced rockfalls in Anaga, Tenerife (Canary Islands), to forecast rock failures of social significance and to improve the capability to respond and emergency decision making. To define reliable thresholds for a certain area, we analized information during the period 2010–2016, reconstructed the rockfall events, and statistically analyzed the historical rainfall conditions that led to landslides. The summary graph correlating precipitation to the probability of occurrence of an event was plotted. Statistical and probability graphs were made with the direct relationship between the number of rockfall events and total rainfall in that period by examining the maximum daily precipitation, not only on the day of the event but up to 3 days before. Hence, the results of this study would serve as a guide for the possible forecasting of rainfall-induced rockfalls, especially for road maintenance services, so that they can be on alert or mobilize the necessary resources in advance depending on the intensity of the expected rainfall.

Pola Pergerakan Orang di Masa Pandemi dengan Pendekatan Eksploratif di Wilayah Kepulauan Bangka Belitung

COVID-19 has spread around the world and has given a huge impact on people's lives. One of the changes in the COVID-19 condition is the travel pattern of people. Travel patterns can be explained in terms of the flow of vehicles, passengers, and people's mobility from the origin and destination zones within a certain area and period. On the other hand, it is known that travel patterns are an essential factor in solving transportation problems. The change of travel pattern data is needed for transportation planners and policymakers in providing safe transportation during the pandemic. In addition, data on travel patterns also play an important role in determining travel restrictions in an area to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This study tries to analyze travel patterns during the COVID-19 pandemic through an exploratory approach by taking a case study in the Bangka Belitung Province. The results of this study show that the mobility was dominated by intra-island trips during the pandemic, both within Bangka Island and Belitung Island. Furthermore, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of people made changes to their routine's mobility. More than 50% of people did not return to their original travel patterns even though the pandemic conditions had entered the New Normal period. The most influential factor which makes people change their mobility is to take precautions from COVID-19.

How Parents Perceive the Potential Risk of a Child-Dog Interaction

Dog attacks on children are a widespread problem, which can occur when parents fail to realise a potentially dangerous interaction between a dog and a child. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of parents to identify dangerous situations from several everyday child–dog interactions and to determine whether the participants connected these situations to a particular breed of dog. Five sets of photographs depicting potentially dangerous interactions from everyday situations between children and three dogs (one of each breed) were presented via an online survey to parents of children no more than 6 years old. Data from 207 respondents were analysed using proc GLIMMIX in SAS program, version 9.3. The probability of risk assessment varied according to dog breed (p < 0.001) as well as to the depicted situation (p < 0.001). Results indicated that Labrador Retriever was considered the least likely of the three dogs to be involved in a dangerous dog-child interaction (with 49% predicting a dangerous interaction), followed by Parson Russell Terrier (63.2%) and American Pit Bull Terrier (65%). Participants considered one particular dog-child interaction named ‘touching a bowl’ a dangerous interaction at a high rate (77.9%) when compared with the other presented situations, which were assessed as dangerous at rates of 48.4% to 56.5%. The breed of dog seems to be an influential factor when assessing a potentially dangerous outcome from a dog-child interaction. Contrary to our hypothesis, interactions involving the small dog (Russell Terrier) were rated more critically, similarly to those of the Pit Bull Terrier. These results suggest that even popular family dog breeds, such as Labrador Retrievers, should be treated with more caution.

Analysis of Academic Interpersonal Communication Factors in the Covid-19 Pandemic Period of Buddhist College Students

This study aims to determine the factors influencing interpersonal communication of Buddhist College students, in the online learning process during the covid-19 pandemic, and (2) know the indicators that affect the student's interpersonal communication factors. This study uses a mixed-method. Qualitative methods are used to describe the data descriptively, while quantitative methods are used in factor analysis. Respectively, the most influential factor on interpersonal communication is the motivation in communicating in the academic field, with a score of 0.81, followed by self-confidence with a score of 0.67, and lastly, openness, with a score of 0.67. Each factor is composed of four indicators as follows. For example, confidence is composed of belief, a sense of responsibility, objectivity, and rationality. The strongest indicator of the self-confidence factor is the belief in one's abilities. Meanwhile, achievement motivation factors are mostly composed of such indicators as a willingness to learn, adaptability, the desire to excel, and the existence of communication efforts. The indicator of the strongest motivational factors is achievement motivation. In addition, the openness factor is composed of indicators of equality, environmental interaction, mutual trust, and values. The strongest indicator of the openness factor is the value of interpersonal communication, especially in online learning processes. Received: 31 October 2021 / Accepted: 3 December 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Literary Time and Literary Space in Imagism and Ezra Pound’s Poetry

The relationship between literature and philosophy has led to the inflow of 'small' literature from 'big' literatures within the interaction between literary time and literary space with a propensity to emerge ‘big' again in another literary time and space. The most influential factor in ‘making it new' or 'from big to small, and big again' turns out to be time on account of the fact that the literary creator, namely the poet, is mortal. Since the existence of a poet as a creator turns out to be ‘temporal’, ‘making it new’ turns out to be vital for the next temporality. Therefore, this paper, using the document research method, examines Pound's poetry refracted through the time and literary space of his creative existence, as the urge for translation became an influential factor for Pound himself as a ‘new’ author. Thus, the paper analyses ‘temporal overlapping’ under the inspiring influence of Pound's poetic re-creation, either as a conversion of translated matter or as its enhancement by the poets he read. The divergent takes on mimesis by Plato and Aristotle helps Pound's creative originality, whereas J. Hillis Miller’s reading of the theory of temporality of De Mann and Heidegger, as well as the time-space transformations, help clarify 'temporal overlapping'. These, in turn, make us believe that the creation of ‘new originality’ influenced by ‘old originality’ during the transformation of time into space brings about the immortality of the poet along with ‘the little big’ literature. Received: 7 October 2021 / Accepted: 29 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

Coordination in Planning and Implementing Professional Development Programs for Teachers: A Much-needed Component in Rural Areas

Coordination among stakeholders has been considered as a significant influential factor in providing teachers with quality Professional Development (PD) opportunities. The importance of coordination intensifies when a variety of PD providers work on the capacity building of teachers in the same region such as in some rural areas of Pakistan. The current research explored the nature of coordination among various stakeholders while designing and implementing PD programs for teachers in rural Pakistan. To achieve this aim, qualitative case study approach was used and data were generated through focused group interviews from PD providers, education managers, school leaders, and teachers. The results indicated a limited coordination among the stakeholders leading to a variety of issues such as overlapping programs, conflicting expectations from teachers, and selection of irrelevant teachers for PD. Drawing on the experience of the stakeholders who participated in this research, the paper suggests a model of coordination which the educational reformers, especially the PD providers and education managers, should consider while designing and implementing the capacity building programs for teachers.

Effect of Land Cover Differences on Soil Infiltration at UB Forest, Karangploso Malang

Changes in land cover of forest provide different soil organic matter which affects soil infiltration through soil porosity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of differences in land cover on soil infiltration at UB Forest of Karangploso Malang. The study area was divided into six plots, namely protected area plots, mahogany production forests, pine production forests intercropped with coffee plants that have three different canopy densities (tenuous, sufficient and tight) and pine production forests intercropped with seasonal crops. Field observations were carried out to analyze the characteristics of vegetation with a sample plot measuring 20x20 m. The parameters observed were canopy density, basal area, plant density, litter and understorey. The taking of soil samples was done by making minipit which was repeated four times; the parameters observed were organic matter, texture, bulk density, particle density and soil porosity. Infiltration measurements were carried out with two methods i.e. single ring infiltrometer and rainfall simulator, each of which was repeated three times. Observation data were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and followed by with LSD test with a significant level of 5%. The results showed that differences in land cover can affect soil infiltration (F-count > F-table 3.33). The effect of land cover on infiltration occurs through litter which is a source of organic material which will then affect the physical properties of the soil, namely soil porosity. Soil porosity is a very influential factor in soil infiltration. The highest soil infiltration reta of 131.33 cm hour-1 was found in protected areas. Meanwhile, the lowest infiltration rate of 12 cm hour-1 was found in pine production forest plots intercropped with annual crops.

Factors Influencing Public Trust in the Police in South Korea: Focus on Instrumental, Expressive, and Normative Models

Abundant studies examining public trust in the police have applied several theoretical models including instrumental, expressive, or normative models. However, few studies have attempted to simultaneously assess the empirical validity of these theoretical models of public trust in the police. In addition, there has been little research on public trust in police in East Asia; most of the empirical research on this topic has been explored in Western societies. To extend the knowledge of public trust in the police, the current study investigated to what extent factors drawn from three models influence public trust in the police using a sample of South Korean citizens. The results show that, consistent with prior research, police effectiveness, procedural justice, and social cohesion had significant, positive effects on public trust in the police. Police effectiveness was the most influential factor followed by procedural justice and social cohesion. Implications for practice and future research are discussed.