Effects of Climate Change and Anthropogenic Activities on Algivorous Cichlid Fish in Lake Tanganyika

Over the last century, water temperatures in Lake Tanganyika have risen due to climate change, which increased thermal stratification and reduced the magnitude of nutrient availability. A rise in temperature increases the C:N:P ratio resulting in a poor algal diet. In addition, lake littoral habitat is experiencing increased sediment load due to deforestation of the watershed caused by anthropogenic activities. Sediments cover benthic algae and reduce its nutritional value, consequently affecting the foraging behavior, distribution, and growth performance of algivorous fish. Algae and algivorous fish are an important link in the lake food chain; therefore, if the rise in temperature will continue as predicted, then this may have a cascading effect for the rest of the community in the food chain including human being. This, in turn, may contribute to food insecurity at local and regional levels. To counteract this adaptation and mitigation measures such as environmental monitoring systems and creating new opportunities should be considered.

Effect of physical therapy on 7- to 10-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder: A retrospective study in a university day hospital

More than half of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) suffer from motor impairment. In a retrospective study, the authors investigated the effect of a body-mediated workshop with dance movement therapy (DMT) on the motor skills and social skills of children with ASD by comparing 10 autistic children aged 7 to 10 years who benefited from DMT with 10 autistic children in a control group. Scores on the Movement Assessment Battery for Children and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale were compared. The body-mediated workshop had significant benefits for motricity, especially manual dexterity, and for relational skills. A body-mediated workshop may have a multimodal effect and requires transmodal training. Regarding the mechanisms that explain the benefits and the cascading effect, the roles of imitation and multimodal connections are important.

Economic Scar Tissue of COVID-19 Puzzle: An Analysis, Evidence and Suggestion on Global Perspective

The COVID-19 pandemic has instigated tremendous human and economic hardship around the world. Using meta-literature and time series analysis, we conduct both synthesis and empirical analysis to investigate particularly the economic perspectives of COVID-19 across several financial systems: (a) Asian market, (b) European market, (c) American market and (d) Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Middle East and North Africa’s (MENA) market. The critical review of the leading business and finance journals of ISI-WOS summarizes that the outburst of COVID-19 mercilessly affects global economies; however, the end phase of the systematic cascading effect has not clearly folded yet. The probable reasons of economic downturn are productivity reduction, labour immobility, undue job loss, scarcity of employment opportunities, discontinuation of supply chain, declining foreign exports, investment uncertainty, adverse clientele effect, etc. However, after analysing the pre- and during COVID effect on foreign reserve and remittance, we identify an inconclusive finding: (a) bullish trend, (e.g., the USA, Canada, Mexico, Japan, India, Bangladesh and Singapore); (b) bearish trend, (e.g., the UK, Sri-Lanka, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Italy and Brazil). Our time series analysis between pre- and during COVID-19 also documents the economic mystery that although the overall economic growth has gone down, foreign reserve and remittance have increased gradually across several economies. Overall, the current global situation demands systematic, well-targeted and aggressive fiscal-monetary stimulus initiatives. Therefore, this study offers theoretical, empirical and policy-oriented academic novelty with the possible suggestions and dynamic strategies to circumvent COVID-19 adverse effects.

The Preparedness of Communities around Cilacap Industrial Companies in facing Tsunami Treats

Some vital industries in Cilacap Regency such as PT Pertamina (Persero) Refinery Unit IV Cilacap, PT Solusi Bangun Indonesia Tbk Cilacap Factory, PT Dharmapala Usaha Sukses Cilacap and PT Pupuk Sriwidjaja Palembang Fertilizer Empowerment Unit Cilacap are located close to the southern coast of Java that has the potential to be exposed to the tsunami. If the industrial company is affected by the tsunami, it can create a cascading effect and can have a direct impact on the surrounding community. The cascading effects are technological failure, explosion, fire, the release of hazardous substances to the spread of chemicals that can endanger the environment and society. The purpose of this study is to analyze the preparedness of the communities surrounding the industrial companies in facing the tsunami threat and its subsequent dangers. This study uses a descriptive qualitative research method by using a case study approach by conducting interviews with key informants related to the field of prevention, preparedness and work safety in each company and officials of the Local Government of Cilacap Regency. Data collection was also carried out using a questionnaire method filled out by people around the industrial companies. The results showed that the average value of the preparedness index of the community around industrial companies in Cilacap was 71.70 which was included in the “Ready” category.

Purpose-driven leadership and organizational success: a case of higher educational institutions

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the relationships between organizational purpose, leadership practices and sustainable outcomes for universities in emerging economies. We propose that a strong sense of purpose is a fundamental and defining feature in the leadership practices of these institutions, which ultimately contributes to their success.Design/methodology/approachThe authors present a research model that defines the relationships between a sense of purpose, leadership practices, student success outcomes, alumni involvement outcomes and societal reputation outcomes. Over 200 higher education administrators in India participated in the study.FindingsThe institutions' sense of purpose directly relates to their leadership engagement practices and their student success outcomes. Student success outcomes are a crucial linkage between leadership engagement practices and alumni involvement outcomes to achieve their societal reputation.Practical implicationsAs competitiveness intensifies, educational institutions under resource constraints must differentiate their organizational practices. This paper demonstrates how their core purpose and leadership actions result in achieving effective outcomes and overall sustainable societal reputation.Originality/valueThere is a significant difference between having an organizational purpose and enacting that purpose through their leadership practices. These results highlight the cascading effect from the institution's fundamental sense of purpose to their leadership practices and the positive outcomes of student success, alumni involvement and societal reputation.